# NTSB DEN79FQD04: Piper PA-38, N2578B, Hatch, NM, March 25, 1979

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: March 25, 1979
- Place: Hatch, NM · HATCH, NM
- Location: 32.6731° N, 107.1620° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Hatch, NM, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.6731&lon=-107.1620&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report August 29, 1979
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 137250
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN79FQD04
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN79FQD04

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-2609  79/3/25  NR.HATCH,NM           PIPER PA-38         CR-  0  0  2  INSTRUCTIONAL             COMMERCIAL, FL.INSTR.,
        TIME - 1345                    N2578B              PX-  0  0  0  DUAL                      AGE 24, 929 TOTAL HOURS,
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            96 IN TYPE, INSTRUMENT
                                                                                                   RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          LAS CRUCES,NM               TRUTH OR CONS,NM
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           ENGINE FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION                            IN FLIGHT: NORMAL CRUISE
           COLLIDED WITH: DITCHES                                   LANDING: LEVEL OFF/TOUCHDOWN
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           POWERPLANT - MISCELLANEOUS: POWERPLANT FAILURE FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS
        FACTOR(S)
           TERRAIN - ROUGH/UNEVEN
        COMPLETE POWER LOSS - COMPLETE ENGINE FAILURE/FLAMEOUT-1 ENGINE
        EMERGENCY CIRCUMSTANCES - FORCED LANDING OFF AIRPORT ON LAND
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N2578B](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2578B-1982-10-13), registration cancelled 1982-10-13, S/N 38-79A0130, built 1978 (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: Substantial damage

## 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 19790325005219A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19790325005219A), Mar 25, 1979: Piper PA38112, Hatch, NM, Substantial damage. Pilot stated that engine completely failed in flight. Nothing was found that could have caused the failure.

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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