# NTSB SEA81FA038: Piper PA-28, N2816F, Malad City, ID, May 25, 1981

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: May 25, 1981
- Place: Malad City, ID · MALAD CITY, ID
- Location: 42.1899° N, 112.2497° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Malad City, ID, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.1899&lon=-112.2497&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Uncontrolled descent](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/650) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 3 fatal
- Status: Completed, report July 13, 1981
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 126108
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA81FA038
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA81FA038

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-1134  81/5/25  NR.MALAD CITY,ID      PIPER PA-28         CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 54, 178
        TIME - 0121                    N2816F              PX-  2  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, 170 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          LOGAN,UT                    JEROME,ID
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: UNCONTROLLED                IN FLIGHT: UNCONTROLLED DESCENT
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - SPATIAL DISORIENTATION
        FACTOR(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - ATTEMPTED OPERATION BEYOND EXPERIENCE/ABILITY LEVEL
           WEATHER - OTHER
        WEATHER BRIEFING - BRIEFED BY FLIGHT SERVICE PERSONNEL, BY PHONE
        WEATHER FORECAST - UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          OVERCAST                                                  5000
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          5 OR OVER(UNLIMITED)                                     NONE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          HAZE                                                      59
        WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES                                   WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS
          160                                                       5
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          VFR                                                      VFR
        REMARKS- DARK NITE,SPARSE LTG IN AREA. PLT HAD 13 HRS NITE TIME.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N2816F](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2816F-2012-09-24), registration cancelled 2012-09-24, S/N 28-7916445, 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)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (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 19810525028499A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19810525028499A), May 25, 1981: Piper PA28161, Malad City, ID, Destroyed, 2 fatal. Impacted hill in nose-down high-speed attitude. Dark, rainy night. No ground light, VFR low-time pilot.

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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