# NTSB MIA72FLA19: Piper PA-31, N41DL, Pensacola, FL, October 28, 1971

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: October 28, 1971
- Place: Pensacola, FL · PENSACOLA, FL
- Location: 30.4410° N, 87.1912° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Pensacola, FL, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.4410&lon=-87.1912&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 4 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report April 11, 1972
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 163367
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA72FLA19
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA72FLA19

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-3260  71/10/28   PENSACOLA,FLA       PIPER PA-31         CR-  0  0  1  NONCOMMERCIAL             AIRLINE TRANSPORT, AGE
        TIME - 1016                    N41DL               PX-  0  0  3  CORP/EXEC                 29, 2909 TOTAL HOURS, 457
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            IN TYPE, INSTRUMENT
                                                                                                   RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          PANAMA CITY,FLA             PENSACOLA,FLA
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           MISCELLANEOUS                                            IN FLIGHT: DESCENDING
           AIRFRAME FAILURE: IN FLIGHT                              IN FLIGHT: DESCENDING
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           AIRFRAME - FUSELAGE: DOORS,DOOR FRAMES
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - IMPROPER ALIGNMENT/ADJUSTMENT
           PERSONNEL - MAINTENANCE,SERVICING,INSPECTION: INADEQUATE MAINTENANCE AND INSPECTION
        FACTOR(S)
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - SEPARATION IN FLIGHT
           PILOT IN COMMAND - INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT PREPARATION AND/OR PLANNING
        EMERGENCY CIRCUMSTANCES - PRECAUTIONARY LANDING ON AIRPORT
                                  SUSPECTED OR KNOWN AIRCRAFT DAMAGE
                                  DOOR/PANEL OPEN
        REMARKS- SPLIT DOOR CAME OPEN.TOP HALF SEPARATED IN FLT.EVIDENCE LOCKING PINS WOULDNT COMPLETELY ENGAGE.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N41DL](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N41DL-1998-08-03), registration cancelled 1998-08-03, S/N 31745 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-31
- Registry model: [Piper PA-31-310](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-31-310) (registry code 7103102) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage

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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