# NTSB DEN78FQD02: Piper PA-28R, N32061, Columbus, NM, October 20, 1977

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: October 20, 1977
- Place: Columbus, NM · COLUMBUS, NM
- Location: 31.8274° N, 107.6423° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Columbus, NM, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=31.8274&lon=-107.6423&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal, 1 serious
- Status: Completed, report January 12, 1978
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 144690
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN78FQD02
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN78FQD02

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-3787  77/10/20 NR.COLUMBUS,NM        PIPER PA-28R        CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             COMMERCIAL, FL.INSTR.,
        TIME - 1152                    N32061              PX-  0  1  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  AGE 30, 1081 TOTAL HOURS,
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            58 IN TYPE, INSTRUMENT
                                                                                                   RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - COLUMBUS STOCK
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          CHANDLER,AZ                 EL PASO,TX
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           ENGINE FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION                            IN FLIGHT: NORMAL CRUISE
           STALL: SPIN                                              LANDING: TRAFFIC PATTERN-CIRCLING
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           POWERPLANT - ENGINE STRUCTURE: MASTER AND CONNECTING RODS
           POWERPLANT - ENGINE STRUCTURE: VALVE ASSEMBLIES
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - BENT
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - CHIPPED
           PILOT IN COMMAND - FAILED TO OBTAIN/MAINTAIN FLYING SPEED
           PILOT IN COMMAND - IMPROPER OPERATION OF FLIGHT CONTROLS
        PARTIAL POWER LOSS - UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        EMERGENCY CIRCUMSTANCES - PRECAUTIONARY LANDING ON AIRPORT
                                  SUSPECTED MECHANICAL DISCREPANCY
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N32061](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N32061-1982-04-15), registration cancelled 1982-04-15, S/N 28R-7535020, built 1974 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28R
- Registry model: [Piper PA-28R-200](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28r-200) (registry code 7102811) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Airport: Columbus Stock

## 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 19771020036519A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19771020036519A), Oct 20, 1977: Piper PA28R200, Columbus, TX, Substantial damage

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.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.