# NTSB DCA80AA021: Martin 404, N40438, Tusayan, AZ, November 16, 1979

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: November 16, 1979
- Place: Tusayan, AZ · TUSAYAN, AZ
- Location: 35.9550° N, 112.1202° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Tusayan, AZ, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.9550&lon=-112.1202&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 10 serious, 34 minor
- Status: Completed, report May 28, 1980
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- Safety recommendations: Yes
- NTSB case key (mKey): 79580
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DCA80AA021
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA80AA021

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1-0009  79/11/16 NR.TUSAYAN,AZ         MARTIN 404          CR-  0  3  0  NS/CTR REVENUE PASSG DOM  AIRLINE TRANSPORT, AGE
        TIME - 1452                    N40438              PX-  0  7 34                            52, 13000 TOTAL HOURS,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            1500 IN TYPE, INSTRUMENT
                                                                                                   RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - GRAND CANYON
        OPERATOR - *ERROR-INVALID CODE*
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
         TUSAYAN,AZ                   LAS VEGAS,NV
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           ENGINE FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION                            TAKEOFF: INITIAL CLIMB
           COLLIDED WITH: TREES                                     TAKEOFF: INITIAL CLIMB
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
          MISC-UNWANTED AUTOFEATHER FOR UNDETERMINED REASON
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - TURBULENCE, ASSOCIATED W/CLOUDS AND/OR THUNDERSTORMS
           WEATHER - DOWNDRAFT,UPDRAFTS
           WEATHER - HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE
        EMERGENCY CIRCUMSTANCES - FORCED LANDING OFF AIRPORT ON LAND
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          CLEAR                                                    UNLIMITED
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          5 OR OVER(UNLIMITED)                                     NONE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          NONE                                                      56
        WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES                                   WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS
           40                                                       15
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          VFR                                                      OTHER
         FIRE AFTER IMPACT
        REMARKS- SE CLIMB CPBLTY RDCD BY RISING TRRN,DENS ALT.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N40438](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N40438-2012-11-15), registration cancelled 2012-11-15, S/N 14173, built 1952 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: MARTIN 404
- Registry model: [Martin 404](https://openairdocs.org/model/martin-404) (registry code 5450702) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney R-2800 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-r-2800-series) (registry code 52026, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Airport: Grand Canyon

## 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 19791116044299A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19791116044299A), Nov 16, 1979: Martin 404MARTIN, Tusayan, AZ, Destroyed. Left engine auto-feathered on initial climb on takeoff. Unable maintain flight. Crash-landed. Cause undetermined.

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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