# NTSB UNK78X0134: Piper PA-31, N44LV, Las Vegas, NV, August 30, 1978

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: August 30, 1978
- Place: Las Vegas, NV · LAS VEGAS, NV
- Location: 36.1750° N, 115.1372° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Las Vegas, NV, within about 7 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.1750&lon=-115.1372&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 10 fatal
- Status: Completed, report August 31, 1979
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 139509
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=UNK78X0134
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/UNK78X0134

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-4401  78/8/30    LAS VEGAS,NV        PIPER PA-31         CR-  1  0  0  COMMERCIAL                COMMERCIAL, AGE 48, 6325
        TIME - 0747                    N44LV               PX-  9  0  0  AIR TAXI-PASSG            TOTAL HOURS, 121 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - NORTH LAS VEGAS
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          LAS VEGAS,NV                SANTA ANA,CA
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           STALL                                                    TAKEOFF: INITIAL CLIMB
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           SYSTEMS - FLIGHT CONTROL SYSTEMS: ELEVATOR AND ELEVATOR TAB CONTROL SYSTEM
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - LOOSE,PART/FITTING
        REMARKS- DOWN ELEVATOR CONTROL STOP BACKED OUT,LIMITING DWN ELEV TRAVEL TO 1-1/2DEG OF NORM 20DEG RANGE.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N44LV](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N44LV-1982-09-28), registration cancelled 1982-09-28, S/N 31-7852099, built 1978 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-31
- Registry model: [Piper PA-31-350](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-31-350) (registry code 7103110) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Airport: North Las Vegas

## 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 19780830045489A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19780830045489A), Aug 30, 1978: Piper PA31, Las Vegas, NV, Destroyed, 9 fatal. Elevator downstop bolt back. Out. Elevator travel reduced fm 20 degrees to 1 & 1/2 degrees. Acft stalled on takeoff

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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