# NTSB DEN76FQG04: Piper PA-28, N4523X, Hobbs, NM, May 25, 1976

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Closed
- Date: May 25, 1976
- Place: Hobbs, NM · HOBBS, NM
- Location: 32.7305° N, 103.1614° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Hobbs, NM, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.7305&lon=-103.1614&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious, 1 minor
- Status: Completed, report June 28, 1976
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 154104
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN76FQG04
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN76FQG04

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-1192  76/5/25  NR.HOBBS,NM           PIPER PA-28         CR-  0  1  1  COMMERCIAL                ATP,FLIGHT INSTR., AGE
        TIME - 0330                    N4523X              PX-  0  0  0  AIR TAXI-CARGO            31, 3157 TOTAL HOURS, 70
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            IN TYPE, INSTRUMENT
                                                                                                   RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          HOUSTON,TX                 HOBBS,NM
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           ENGINE FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION                            IN FLIGHT: NORMAL CRUISE
           COLLIDED WITH: WIRES/POLES                               LANDING: FINAL APPROACH
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT PREPARATION AND/OR PLANNING
           PILOT IN COMMAND - MISMANAGEMENT OF FUEL
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - FUEL EXHAUSTION
        FACTOR(S)
           TERRAIN - HIGH OBSTRUCTIONS
           WEATHER - FOG
           POWERPLANT - POWERPLANT-INSTRUMENTS: FUEL QUANTITY GAUGE
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - ERRATIC
        COMPLETE POWER LOSS - COMPLETE ENGINE FAILURE/FLAMEOUT-1 ENGINE
        WEATHER BRIEFING - NO RECORD OF BRIEFING RECEIVED
        WEATHER FORECAST - UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        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
          GROUND FOG                                                50
        WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES                                   WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS
           30                                                       4
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          VFR                                                      NONE
        REMARKS- FUEL EXHAUSTION WHEN FUEL GAGE INDICATED 10 GAL. RAN INTO PATCHES OF GRND FOG AT NIGHT.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N4523X](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4523X-1976-07-16), registration cancelled 1976-07-16, S/N 28-7690029, built 1975 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28
- Registry model: [Piper PA-28-181](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-181) (registry code 7102807) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed

## 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 19760525014289A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19760525014289A), May 25, 1976: Piper PA28181, Hobbs, NM, Destroyed. Fuel exhaustion when fuel gage indicated 10 gal. Ran into patches of grnd fog at night.

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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