# NTSB DEN78FQD33: Piper PA-32R, N5544F, Timberon, NM, August 26, 1978

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: August 26, 1978
- Place: Timberon, NM · TIMBERON, NM
- Location: 32.6363° N, 105.6952° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Timberon, NM, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.6363&lon=-105.6952&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 5 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report October 29, 1978
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 139700
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN78FQD33
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN78FQD33

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-2683  78/8/26    TIMBERON,NM         PIPER PA-32R        CR-  0  0  1  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 53, 101
        TIME - 1400                    N5544F              PX-  0  0  4  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, 41 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - TIMBERON
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          TIMBERON,NM                 SNYDER,TX
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLIDED WITH: TREES                                     TAKEOFF: INITIAL CLIMB
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - IMPROPER COMPENSATION FOR WIND CONDITIONS
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE
           TERRAIN - HIGH OBSTRUCTIONS
        WEATHER BRIEFING - NO RECORD OF BRIEFING RECEIVED
        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                                                      85
        WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES                                   WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS
          230                                                       10
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          VFR                                                      NONE
        REMARKS- WT & BAL INFO NOT AVAILABLE. DA APPROX 10700FT.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N5544F](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N5544F), registered now, S/N 32R-7780014, built 1976 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-32R
- Registry model: [Piper PA-32R-300](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-32r-300) (registry code 7103213) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-540-K1G5D](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-540-k1g5d) (registry code 41598, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Airport: Timberon

## 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 19780826025079A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19780826025079A), Aug 26, 1978: Piper PA32RT300, Timberon, NM, Substantial damage. Wt & bal info not available. Da approx 10700FT.

## Other investigations on N5544F (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 GAA19CA174](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA19CA174), Mar 21, 2019: Piper PA32R (N5544F), Atmautluak, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The airplane's encounter with a snow-covered pothole during taxi.

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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