# NTSB MKC81FA033: Piper PA-28, N2972W, Ottumwa, IA, May 8, 1981

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: May 8, 1981
- Place: Ottumwa, IA · OTTUMWA, IA
- Location: 41.0223° N, 92.4233° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Ottumwa, IA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.0223&lon=-92.4233&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed, report June 23, 1981
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 126311
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MKC81FA033
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MKC81FA033

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-0958   81/5/8  NR.OTTUMWA,IA         PIPER PA-28         CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 22, 208
        TIME - 1125                    N2972W              PX-  1  0  0  BUSINESS                  TOTAL HOURS, 124 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - OTTUMWA IND
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          FAIRFIELD,IA                ALBIA,IA
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLIDED WITH: WIRES/POLES                               IN FLIGHT: LOW PASS
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - FAILED TO SEE AND AVOID OBJECTS OR OBSTRUCTIONS
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - UNWARRANTED LOW FLYING
         FIRE AFTER IMPACT
        REMARKS- COLLIDED WITH WIRES OVR RIVER.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N2972W](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2972W-1981-06-17), registration cancelled 1981-06-17, S/N 28-8016005, built 1979 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28
- Registry model: [Piper PA-28-161](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-161) (registry code 7102803) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Airport: Ottumwa Ind

## 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 19810508022899A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19810508022899A), May 8, 1981: Piper PA28161, Ottumwa, IA, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Flying over river at unsafe altitude, struck power-line. Impact severed right wing.

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.