# NTSB DEN79FA039: Piper PA-31, N54286, Albuquerque, NM, May 13, 1979

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: May 13, 1979
- Place: Albuquerque, NM · ALBUQUERQUE, NM
- Location: 35.0845° N, 106.6511° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Albuquerque, NM, within about 8 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.0845&lon=-106.6511&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal, 1 serious, 3 minor
- Status: Completed, report April 30, 1980
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 201204
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN79FA039
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN79FA039-201204

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-3540  79/5/13  NR.ALBUQUERQUE,NM     PIPER PA-31         CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             COMMERCIAL, FL.INSTR.,
        TIME - 1635                    N54286              PX-  1  1  3  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  AGE 39, 6000 TOTAL HOURS,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            UNK/NR IN TYPE,
                                                                                                   INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
         ALBUQUERQUE,NM               MIDLAND,TX
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           ENGINE FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION                            IN FLIGHT: CLIMB TO CRUISE
           NOSE OVER/DOWN                                           LANDING: LEVEL OFF/TOUCHDOWN
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PERSONNEL - MAINTENANCE,SERVICING,INSPECTION: INADEQUATE MAINTENANCE AND INSPECTION
           POWERPLANT - ENGINE STRUCTURE: PISTON,PISTON RINGS
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - LACK OF LUBRICATION-SPECIFIC PART,NOT SYSTEM
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - OVERHEATED
           SYSTEMS - HYDRAULIC SYSTEM: HYDRAULIC PUMPS
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - IMPROPERLY INSTALLED
           PILOT IN COMMAND - FAILED TO FOLLOW APPROVED PROCEDURES,DIRECTIVES,ETC.
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - HIGH TEMPERATURE
           WEATHER - HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE
           TERRAIN - ROUGH/UNEVEN
        PARTIAL POWER LOSS - PARTIAL LOSS OF POWER - 1 ENGINE
        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                                                      79
        WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES                                   WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS
          200                                                       10
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          VFR                                                      NONE
         FIRE AFTER IMPACT
        REMARKS- PLT FEATHERED R ENG.L HYDR PUMP INOP.LNDG GEAR EXTD DRG GO-ARND FM GEAR-UP APCH.D/A 7750FT.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N54286](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N54286-1980-09-22), registration cancelled 1980-09-22, S/N 317405226 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-31
- Registry model: [Piper PA-31-350](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-31-350) (registry code 7103110) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Airport: Albuquerque Intl

## 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 19790513041899A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19790513041899A), May 13, 1979: Piper PA31350, Albuquerque, NM, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Tried go-around with one engine feathered. Unable to raise gear due to faulty pump. Unable to maintain altitude.

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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