# NTSB DEN79FQA41: Piper PA-28, N8726N, Cuba, NM, July 21, 1979

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: July 21, 1979
- Place: Cuba, NM · CUBA, NM
- Location: 36.0146° N, 106.9680° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Cuba, NM, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.0146&lon=-106.9680&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 4 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report September 6, 1979
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 135045
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN79FQA41
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN79FQA41

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-1491  79/7/21    CUBA,NM             PIPER PA-28         CR-  0  0  1  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 36, 314
        TIME - 0800                    N8726N              PX-  0  0  3  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, 239 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - TORREON
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          CUBA,NM                     ALBUQUERQUE,NM
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: CONTROLLED                  TAKEOFF: INITIAL CLIMB
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT PREPARATION AND/OR PLANNING
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE
        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                                                      69
        WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES                                   WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS
          360                                                       6
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          VFR                                                      NONE
        REMARKS- DA 8400FT.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N8726N](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8726N-2013-08-21), registration cancelled 2013-08-21, S/N 28-25539, built 1969 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28
- Registry model: [Piper PA-28-140](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-140) (registry code 7102802) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Airport: Torreon

## 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 19790721018609A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19790721018609A), Jul 21, 1979: Piper PA28140, Torreon, NM, Substantial damage. Pilot was unable to out climb rising terrain after takeoff. Factors;full load,density altitude.

## Other investigations on N8726N (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 FTW96LA146](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW96LA146), Mar 9, 1996: Piper PA-28-140 (N8726N), Gladewater, TX, substantial damage. Probable cause: fuel starvation due to the pilot inadvertently turning the fuel selector to the OFF position. A factor was the lack of suitable terrain for the forced landing.

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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