# NTSB IAD79FA089: Piper PA-38, N4433E, Chesterfield, VA, September 26, 1979

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: September 26, 1979
- Place: Chesterfield, VA · CHESTERFIELD, VA
- Location: 37.3771° N, 77.5058° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Chesterfield, VA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.3771&lon=-77.5058&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 29, 1979
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 133373
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=IAD79FA089
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/IAD79FA089

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-2493  79/9/26    CHESTERFIELD,VA     PIPER PA-38         CR-  1  1  0  INSTRUCTIONAL             COMMERCIAL, FL.INSTR.,
        TIME - 1604                    N4433E              PX-  0  0  0  DUAL                      AGE 36, 798 TOTAL HOURS,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            50 IN TYPE, NOT
                                                                                                   INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - CHESTERFIELD
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          CHESTERFIELD,VA             LOCAL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           ENGINE FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION                            TAKEOFF: INITIAL CLIMB
           STALL: SPIN                                              TAKEOFF: INITIAL CLIMB
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - MISMANAGEMENT OF FUEL
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - INATTENTIVE TO FUEL SUPPLY
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - FUEL STARVATION
           PILOT IN COMMAND - FAILED TO OBTAIN/MAINTAIN FLYING SPEED
        COMPLETE POWER LOSS - COMPLETE ENGINE FAILURE/FLAMEOUT-1 ENGINE
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N4433E](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4433E-1984-12-12), registration cancelled 1984-12-12, S/N 38-78A0601, built 1978 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-38
- Registry model: [Piper PA-38-112](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-38-112) (registry code 7103812) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Airport: Chesterfield

## 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 19790926029959A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19790926029959A), Sep 26, 1979: Piper PA38112, Chesterfield, VA, Destroyed. One fuel tank ran dry on takeoff. Aircraft rolled inverted during attempted restart of engine.

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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