# NTSB IAD78FIA19: Piper PA-28, N5179F, Indian Head, MD, September 23, 1978

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: September 23, 1978
- Place: Indian Head, MD · INDIAN HEAD, MD
- Location: 38.5986° N, 77.1557° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Indian Head, MD, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.5986&lon=-77.1557&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal, 1 serious
- Status: Completed, report October 25, 1978
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 139689
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=IAD78FIA19
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/IAD78FIA19

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-2789  78/9/23    INDIAN HEAD,MD      PIPER PA-28         CR-  1  1  0  INSTRUCTIONAL             COMMERCIAL, FL.INSTR.,
        TIME - 1245                    N5179F              PX-  0  0  0  DUAL                      AGE 62, 5850 TOTAL HOURS,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            900 IN TYPE, INSTRUMENT
                                                                                                   RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - MARYLAND
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          INDIAN HEAD,MD              LOCAL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           ENGINE FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION                            TAKEOFF: INITIAL CLIMB
           COLLIDED WITH: TREES                                     LANDING: LEVEL OFF/TOUCHDOWN
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           POWERPLANT - MISCELLANEOUS: POWERPLANT FAILURE FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS
        COMPLETE POWER LOSS - COMPLETE ENGINE FAILURE/FLAMEOUT-1 ENGINE
        EMERGENCY CIRCUMSTANCES - FORCED LANDING OFF AIRPORT ON LAND
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N5179F](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5179F-1980-12-16), registration cancelled 1980-12-16, S/N 28-7790085, built 1976 (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
- Airport: Maryland

## 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 19780923026939A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19780923026939A), Sep 23, 1978: Piper PA28180, Indian Head, MD, 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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