# NTSB FTW80FQG39: Piper PA-36, N57868, Clovis, NM, September 4, 1980

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: September 4, 1980
- Place: Clovis, NM · CLOVIS, NM
- Location: 34.4386° N, 103.1942° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Clovis, NM, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.4386&lon=-103.1942&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report September 18, 1980
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 129394
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW80FQG39
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW80FQG39

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-1811   80/9/4    CLOVIS,NM           PIPER PA-36         CR-  0  0  1  COMMERCIAL                COMMERCIAL, AGE 31, 2883
        TIME - 1030                    N57868              PX-  0  0  0  AERIAL APPLICATION        TOTAL HOURS, 380 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          CLOVIS,NM                   LOCAL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLIDED WITH: WIRES/POLES                               IN FLIGHT: SWATH RUN
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - DIVERTED ATTENTION FROM OPERATION OF AIRCRAFT
           PILOT IN COMMAND - FAILED TO SEE AND AVOID OBJECTS OR OBSTRUCTIONS
         SPECIAL DATA
          TOTAL HOURS IN CROP CONTROL - 1000                       KIND OF OPERATION - SPRAYING CROPS
          KIND OF CROP - POTATOES                                  TYPE OF CHEMICAL USED - LIQUID CHEMICAL-TOXIC
          PILOT' S SEAT BELT -FASTENED-PROPERLY                    GLOVES - NOT USED
          GOGGLES - NOT USED                                       CRASH HELMET - AVAILABLE USED
          COCKPIT CRASHPAD - INSTALLED                             CRASH BAR - INSTALLED
          TANK/HOPPER-LOCATION - FORWARD OF PILOT                  TERRAIN-TYPE -LEVEL,FLAT
          ELEVATION-AREA BEING TREATED-FEET -  4240                SWATH RUN-HOW FLOWN - CROSSWIND
         FIRE AFTER IMPACT
        REMARKS- PLT STATED DISTRACTED BY PLOW IN CROPS BELOW.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N57868](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N57868-1981-06-01), registration cancelled 1981-06-01, S/N 36-7760021 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-36
- Registry model: [Piper PA-36-300](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-36-300) (registry code 7103612) (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 19800904039349A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19800904039349A), Sep 4, 1980: Piper PA36300, Clovis, NM, Substantial damage. Ag pilot struck wires while attempting to fly under during spraying operation.

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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