# NTSB CHI78FEX39: Piper PA-38, N4376E, Indianapolis, IN, September 19, 1978

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: September 19, 1978
- Place: Indianapolis, IN · INDIANAPOLIS, IN
- Location: 39.7684° N, 86.1580° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Indianapolis, IN, within about 11 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.7684&lon=-86.1580&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report February 20, 1979
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 139443
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI78FEX39
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI78FEX39

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-4043  78/9/19  NR.INDIANAPOLIS,IN    PIPER PA-38         CR-  0  0  1  MISCELLANEOUS             COMMERCIAL, FL.INSTR.,
        TIME - 2345                    N4376E              PX-  0  0  0  FERRY                     AGE 24, 2102 TOTAL HOURS,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            7 IN TYPE, INSTRUMENT
                                                                                                   RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - INDIANAPOLIS
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          DAYTON,OH                   ST. LOUIS,MO
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           ENGINE FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION                            IN FLIGHT: NORMAL CRUISE
           COLLIDED WITH: TREES                                     LANDING: FINAL APPROACH
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           POWERPLANT - IGNITION SYSTEM: MAGNETOS
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - GROUNDED
        COMPLETE POWER LOSS - COMPLETE ENGINE FAILURE/FLAMEOUT-1 ENGINE
        REMARKS- BOTH MAGNETOS PN4050,4051 HAD SHORTED CONDENSORS PNM3087.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N4376E](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4376E-1979-03-19), registration cancelled 1979-03-19, S/N 38-78A0582, built 1978 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-38
- Registry model: [Piper PA-38-112](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-38-112) (registry code 7103812) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Airport: Indianapolis

## 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 19780919030789A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19780919030789A), Sep 19, 1978: Piper PA38112, Indianapolis, IN, Destroyed. Both magnetos PN4050,4051 had shorted condensors PNM3087.

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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