# NTSB DEN79FA009: Piper PA-38, N9816T, Las Cruses, NM, November 25, 1978

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: November 25, 1978
- Place: Las Cruses, NM · LAS CRUSES, NM
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed, report January 5, 1979
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 139162
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN79FA009
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN79FA009

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-3528  78/11/25 NR.LAS CRUSES,NM      PIPER PA-38         CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 22, 42 TOTAL
        TIME - 1220                    N9816T              PX-  1  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  HOURS, 12 IN TYPE, NOT
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - LAS CRUCES CRAW
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
         LAS CRUSES,NM                LOCAL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           STALL: SPIN                                              IN FLIGHT: NORMAL CRUISE
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - FAILED TO OBTAIN/MAINTAIN FLYING SPEED
        FACTOR(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - LACK OF FAMILIARITY WITH AIRCRAFT
        REMARKS- LOW TIME PILOT HAD ONLY ONE SOLO FLT SINCE CHECKOUT IN NEW AIRCRAFT JUL 78.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N9816T](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9816T-1982-10-14), registration cancelled 1982-10-14, S/N 38-78A0215 (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: Las Cruces Craw

## 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 19781125039819A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19781125039819A), Nov 25, 1978: Piper PA38112, Las Cruses, NM, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Low time pilot had only one solo flt since checkout in new aircraul 78.

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.