# NTSB FTW79FA022: Piper PA-28, N3436M, Hempstead, TX, December 6, 1978

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: December 6, 1978
- Place: Hempstead, TX · HEMPSTEAD, TX
- Location: 30.1015° N, 96.0765° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Hempstead, TX, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.1015&lon=-96.0765&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Uncontrolled descent](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/650) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report March 12, 1979
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 138490
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW79FA022
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW79FA022

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-4034   78/12/6   HEMPSTEAD,TX        PIPER PA-28         CR-  1  0  0  COMMERCIAL                COMMERCIAL, AGE 44, 2311
        TIME - 1420                    N3436M              PX-  0  0  0  POWER/PIPELINE            TOTAL HOURS, 476 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          MCALLEN,TX                  MONROE,LA
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: UNCONTROLLED                IN FLIGHT: UNCONTROLLED DESCENT
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT PREPARATION AND/OR PLANNING
           PILOT IN COMMAND - CONTINUED VFR FLIGHT INTO ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS
           PILOT IN COMMAND - SPATIAL DISORIENTATION
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - LOW CEILING
           WEATHER - RAIN
        WEATHER BRIEFING - NO RECORD OF BRIEFING RECEIVED
        WEATHER FORECAST - FORECAST SUBSTANTIALLY CORRECT
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          OVERCAST                                                  200
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          1/4 MILE OR LESS                                         RAIN
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          FOG                                                       75
        WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES                                   WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS
          130                                                       16
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          IFR                                                      NONE
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N3436M](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3436M-2013-03-07), registration cancelled 2013-03-07, S/N 28-7890300, built 1977 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28
- Registry model: [Piper PA-28-181](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-181) (registry code 7102807) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming O&VO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-vo-360-series) (registry code 41514, 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 19781206044699A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19781206044699A), Dec 6, 1978: Piper PA28181, Hempstead, TX, Destroyed

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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