# NTSB FTW78FPG60: Piper PA-31, N404RC, Mena, AR, July 12, 1978

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Closed
- Date: July 12, 1978
- Place: Mena, AR · MENA, AR
- Location: 34.5826° N, 94.2365° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Mena, AR, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.5826&lon=-94.2365&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor
- Status: Completed, report August 17, 1978
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 141350
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW78FPG60
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW78FPG60

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-1521  78/7/12    MENA,AR             PIPER PA-31         CR-  0  0  1  MISCELLANEOUS             COMMERCIAL, FL.INSTR.,
        TIME - 1015                    N404RC              PX-  0  0  0  TEST                      AGE 50, 3815 TOTAL HOURS,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            125 IN TYPE, INSTRUMENT
                                                                                                   RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - MENA MUNICIPAL
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          MENA,AR                     LOCAL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           ENGINE FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION                            TAKEOFF: INITIAL CLIMB
           COLLIDED WITH: TREES                                     LANDING: TRAFFIC PATTERN-CIRCLING
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           POWERPLANT - MISCELLANEOUS: POWERPLANT FAILURE FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS
           PILOT IN COMMAND - MISJUDGED ALTITUDE AND CLEARANCE
        FACTOR(S)
           TERRAIN - HIGH OBSTRUCTIONS
        COMPLETE POWER LOSS - COMPLETE ENGINE FAILURE/FLAMEOUT-1 ENGINE
        EMERGENCY CIRCUMSTANCES - FORCED LANDING ON AIRPORT/SEAPLANE BASE/HELIPT.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N404RC](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N404RC-1982-07-25), registration cancelled 1982-07-25, S/N 31-7552060, built 1975 (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: Mena Municipal

## 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 19780712018669A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19780712018669A), Jul 12, 1978: Piper PA31350, Mena, AR, Substantial damage

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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