# NTSB SEA87FA098: Piper PA-31-350, N22LV, North Las Vegas, NV, May 20, 1987

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: May 20, 1987, 03:55 local (10:55 UTC)
- Place: North Las Vegas, NV
- Location: 36.1989° N, 115.1175° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of North Las Vegas, NV, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.1989&lon=-115.1175&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Unknown](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/990) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report May 31, 1988
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 40517
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA87FA098
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/40517/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA87FA098

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of control - in flight, unknown
  - judgment - poor, unqualified person (cause)
  - impairment(alcohol), unqualified person (cause)
  - psychological condition, unqualified person (contributing factor)
  - stolen aircraft/unauthorized use
  - light condition - dark night (contributing factor)
  - airspeed - not maintained, unqualified person (cause)
  - stall - inadvertent, unqualified person (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

A MECHANIC, WHO WAS NOT RATED AS A PLT, TOOK THE ACFT WITHOUT PERMISSION & ELECTED TO TAKEOFF AT NGT. A WITNESS SAW THE ACFT DEP AT ABOUT 0250 PDT. SUBSEQUENTLY, IT CRASHED APRX 3 MI ENE OF THE ARPT IN AN OPEN UNDEVELOPED AREA. THE TIME OF THE ACDNT WAS NOT DETERMINED, BUT A CLOCK IN THE WRECKAGE HAD STOPPED AT 0355. THERE WAS EVIDENCE THE ACFT HAD IMPACTED IN A NOSE DOWN, INVERTED ATTITUDE WHILE ON A NNE HDG. THE ACFT MOVED ONLY 28' AFTER IMPACT & CAME TO REST INVERTED WITH THE GEAR EXTENDED & THE FLAPS RETRACTED. NO PREIMPACT MECHANICAL PROBLEM WAS FND. TOXICOLOGY TESTS SHOWED THE PLT HAD A BLOOD/ALCOHOL LVL OF 0.37% & A VITREOUS/ALCOHOL LVL OF 0.33%. NO RECORD WAS FND TO INDC THAT HE HAD ENGAGED IN ANY PREVIOUS FORMAL FLT TRAINING. THERE WAS EVIDENCE THE PLT HAD BEEN UNDER RECENT STRESS. A FRIEND RPRTD THE PLT & HIS WIFE WERE 'BREAKING UP.'  THE PLT'S WIFE RPRTD HE HAD A DRINKING PROBLEM' WHICH WAS THE REASON FOR THEIR SEPN.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N22LV](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N22LV-2014-09-16), registration cancelled 2014-09-16, S/N 31-7752066 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-31-350
- Registry model: [Piper PA-31-310](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-31-310) (registry code 7103102) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 31-7752066
- Airframe hours: 8672
- Engines: LYCOMING L/TIO-540 350 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Part 91
- Registered owner: Las Vegas Airlines
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: AAIP, May 12, 1987, 27 hours before
- Departed: VGT, NORTH LAS VEGAS, NV
- Destination: UNKOWN

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 28; seat: left; toxicology performed

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 150° at 13 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 63 °F, dew point 39 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: LAS, 9 nm away

## 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 19870520014789A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19870520014789A), May 20, 1987: Piper PA31310, Las Vegas, NV, Destroyed, 1 fatal. The aircraft impacted the ground inverted. Suspect nonrated, intoxicated pilot was unable to handle a failed engine

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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