# NTSB LAX81OA021: Piper PA-31, N3542X, Magdelena, Mexico, September 30, 1980

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: September 30, 1980
- Place: Magdelena, Mexico · MAGDELENA,MEXICO, MX
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed, report March 12, 1982
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 129049
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX81OA021
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX81OA021

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
6-0001  80/9/30  NR.MAGDELENA,MEXICO   PIPER PA-31         CR-  1  0  0  COMMERCIAL                ATP,FLIGHT INSTR., AGE
        TIME - 1415                    N3542X              PX-  1  0  0  COMMUTER AIR CARRIER      34, 4800 TOTAL HOURS,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0  AIR TAXI-PASSG S-I        1079 IN TYPE, INSTRUMENT
                                                                                                   RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - MAGDELENA
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          GUAYMAS,MEXICO              TUCSON,AZ,USA
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           FIRE OR EXPLOSION: IN FLIGHT                             IN FLIGHT: OTHER
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: UNCONTROLLED                LANDING: FINAL APPROACH
         FIRE AFTER IMPACT
        REMARKS- INVESTIGATION UNDER JURISDICTION OF THE GOVERNMENT OF MEXICO.ENGINE FIRE.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N3542X](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3542X-1983-05-06), registration cancelled 1983-05-06, S/N 31-7952239 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-31
- Registry model: [Piper PA-31-350](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-31-350) (registry code 7103110) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Airport: Magdelena

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19800930067299A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19800930067299A), Sep 30, 1980: Piper PA31, Magdelana, Mexico, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Engine fire in flight according to witness. One engine feathered. Crash landed. Cause engine fire unknown.

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.