# NTSB LAX82FUJ17: Piper PA-23, N13792, Tucson, AZ, December 6, 1981

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: December 6, 1981
- Place: Tucson, AZ · TUCSON, AZ
- Location: 32.2217° N, 110.9265° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Tucson, AZ, within about 9 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.2217&lon=-110.9265&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed, report April 4, 1983
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 122690
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX82FUJ17
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX82FUJ17

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-3686   81/12/6 NR.TUCSON,AZ          PIPER PA-23         CR-  1  0  0  MISCELLANEOUS             PRIVATE, AGE 33, 876
        TIME - 2052                    N13792              PX-  1  0  0  OTHER                     TOTAL HOURS, UNK/NR IN
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            TYPE, NOT INSTRUMENT
                                                                                                   RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
         UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED        UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLIDED WITH: ELECTRONIC TOWERS                         IN FLIGHT: NORMAL CRUISE
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - MISJUDGED ALTITUDE
        FACTOR(S)
           TERRAIN - HIGH OBSTRUCTIONS
         FIRE AFTER IMPACT
        REMARKS- HIT HI-VOLTAGE TRANSMISSION TWR.CONTRABAND FLIGHT.ACFT WAS UNDER SURVEILLANCE.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N13792](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N13792-2011-03-01), registration cancelled 2011-03-01, S/N 27-4438, built 1970 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-23
- Registry model: [Piper PA-23-250](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-23-250) (registry code 7102308) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming TI0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-ti0-540-series) (registry code 41533, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed

## 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 19811206080309A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19811206080309A), Dec 6, 1981: Piper PA23250, Tucson, AZ, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Illegal drug flight. Pilot flew low with lights off at night to avoid detection. Struck the top of a powerline pole

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.

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