# Accident 20010531010099A: Piper PA28R180, Albuquerque, NM, May 31, 2001

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: May 31, 2001, 20:34 local time
- Place: Albuquerque, NM
- Airport: Albuquerque International Airport
- Damage: No damage
- Location: 35.0601° N, 106.6196° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.0601&lon=-106.6196&mi=10
- Aircraft: N3708T, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3708T-2013-08-20) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-28R-180 (registry code 7102809, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28r-180) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming I0360 series (registry code 41515, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA28R180
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB DEN01LA107](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN01LA107) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20010531010099A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

(.19)ON MAY 31, 2001, AT 2034 MOUNTAIN DAYLIGHT TIME, A PIPER PA-28R-180, N3708T, REGISTERED TO AND OPERATED BY THE PILOT, WAS DESTROYED DURING A FORCED LANDING 2 MILES SOUTH OF THE ALBUQUERQUE INTERNATIONAL SUNPORT, ALBUQUERQUE, NEW MEXICO. THE PRIVATE PILOT, THE SOLE OCCUPANT ABOARD, RECEIVED MINOR INJURIES. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED, AND NO FLIGHT PLAN HAD BEEN FILED FOR THE PERSONAL FLIGHT BEING CONDUCTED UNDER TITLE 14 CFR PART 91. THE FLIGHT ORIGINATED APPROXIMATELY 2030. AFTER THE AIRPLANE TOOK OFF FROM RUNWAY 21 AND CLIMBED TO AN ALTITUDE OF 150 TO 200 FEET, THE ENGINE "LURCHED" AND "BEGAN SPUTTERING." THE PILOT REPORTED HIS SITUATION TO THE CONTROL TOWER, AND HE WAS CLEARED TO LAND ON ANY RUNWAY. IN THE PROCESS OF TURNING AROUND, THE RIGHT WING WAS TORN OFF AFTER STRIKING A POWERLINE AND THE AIRPLANE IMPACTED A MESA. FAA INSPECTORS REPORTED THE NUMBER 1 CYLINDER HEAD HAD BLOWN OFF AT THE BARREL. (-23)ON 5-31-01, N3708T, A PIPER ARROW PILOT BY ^PRIVACY DATA ^ DEPARTED RUNWAY 21 AT ABQ SUNPORT.  AT 150 FEET AGL THE PILOT FELT THE AIRCRAFT LURCH AND BEGAN TO RUN ROUGH.  HE ASKED ATC TO RETURN TO ABQ WITHOUT DELAY AND WA                                        S GIVEN THE OKAY TO RETURN USING ANY RUNWAY. DURING THE LEFT TURN TO RETURN TO ABQ HIS ENGINE QUIT, SO HE BEGAN A RIGHT TURN TO LAND ON A LOCAL ROAD WHEN HE STRUCK A POWER LINE.  THE AIRCRAFT THEN STRUCK A CLIFF SEVERING THE RIGHT WING AT THE WING ROOT AND CAME TO REST 150 FEET FROM THE CLIFFS EDGE.  THE NUMBER ONE CYLINDER HEAD SEPERATED FROM THE CYLINDER SLEEVE.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

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.

- [NTSB DEN01LA107](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN01LA107), Jun 1, 2001: Piper PA-28R-180 (N3708T), Albuquerque, NM, destroyed. Probable cause: the pilot's diminished visual lookout, resulting in the wire strike. Contributing factors were the total mechanical failure of the cylinder, dusk, and the power transmission line.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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