# NTSB FTW77FPG05: Piper PA-28, N40939, Salem, AR, October 29, 1976

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: October 29, 1976
- Place: Salem, AR · SALEM, AR
- Location: 36.3704° N, 91.8217° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Salem, AR, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.3704&lon=-91.8217&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report November 30, 1976
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 155973
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW77FPG05
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW77FPG05

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-3098  76/10/29   SALEM,AR            PIPER PA-28         CR-  0  0  1  NONCOMMERCIAL             COMMERCIAL, AGE 27, 1062
        TIME - 1950                    N40939              PX-  0  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, 8 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION         LAST ENROUTE STOP
          MILTON,FL                   FT.SMITH,AR                  MONROE,LA
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           ENGINE FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION                            IN FLIGHT: NORMAL CRUISE
           NOSE OVER/DOWN                                           LANDING: ROLL
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - IMPROPER IN-FLIGHT DECISIONS OR PLANNING
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - FUEL EXHAUSTION
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - LOW CEILING
           WEATHER - RAIN
           WEATHER - ICING CONDITIONS-INCLUDES SLEET,FREEZING RAIN,ETC.
           TERRAIN - HIGH OBSTRUCTIONS
           TERRAIN - ROUGH/UNEVEN
        COMPLETE POWER LOSS - COMPLETE ENGINE FAILURE/FLAMEOUT-1 ENGINE
        WEATHER BRIEFING - BRIEFED BY WEATHER BUREAU PERSONNEL, IN PERSON
        WEATHER FORECAST - FORECAST SUBSTANTIALLY CORRECT
        EMERGENCY CIRCUMSTANCES - FORCED LANDING OFF AIRPORT ON LAND
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          OVERCAST                                                  2800
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          2 MILES OR LESS                                          RAIN
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          HAZE                                                      38
        WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES                                   WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS
           60                                                       10
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          IFR                                                      IFR
        REMARKS- ACFT T/D BETWEEN 2 PWR LINES THEN HIT TREES.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N40939](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N40939), registered now, S/N 28-7425191, built 1973 (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: Destroyed

## 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 19761029034199A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19761029034199A), Oct 29, 1976: Piper PA28140, Salem, AR, Substantial damage. Acft t/d between 2 pwr lines then hit trees.

## Other investigations on N40939 (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 CEN24LA339](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN24LA339), Sep 5, 2024: Piper PA-28-140 (N40939), Borger, TX, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s inadequate fuel management which led to fuel exhaustion.

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.