# NTSB LAX78FUJ82: Travel Air 4000, N609H, Tolleson, AZ, July 12, 1978

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Closed
- Date: July 12, 1978
- Place: Tolleson, AZ · TOLLESON, AZ
- Location: 33.4484° N, 112.2560° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Tolleson, AZ, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.4484&lon=-112.2560&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious
- Status: Completed, report September 6, 1978
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 140875
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX78FUJ82
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX78FUJ82

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-1931  78/7/12    TOLLESON, AZ        TRAVEL AIR 4000     CR-  0  1  0  COMMERCIAL                COMMERCIAL, AGE 33, 4077
        TIME - 1900                    N609H               PX-  0  0  0  ASSOC CROP CTL ACTIVITY   TOTAL HOURS, 18 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - COUNTRY BOYS
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          TOLLESON, AZ                LOCAL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLIDED WITH: WIRES/POLES                               TAKEOFF: INITIAL CLIMB
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - FAILED TO OBTAIN/MAINTAIN FLYING SPEED
           WEATHER - HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE
        FACTOR(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT PREPARATION AND/OR PLANNING
        WEATHER BRIEFING - NO RECORD OF BRIEFING RECEIVED
        WEATHER FORECAST - UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          SCATTERED                                                UNLIMITED
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          5 OR OVER(UNLIMITED)                                     NONE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          NONE                                                      104
        WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES                                   WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS
          290                                                       9
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          VFR                                                      NONE
         SPECIAL DATA
          TOTAL HOURS IN CROP CONTROL - 3800                       KIND OF OPERATION - FERTILIZING (LIQUID)
          KIND OF CROP - COTTON                                    TYPE OF CHEMICAL USED - LIQUID CHEMICAL-NONTOXIC
          PILOT' S SEAT BELT -FASTENED-PROPERLY                    GLOVES - USED
          GOGGLES - USED                                           CRASH HELMET - AVAILABLE USED
          COCKPIT CRASHPAD - INSTALLED                             CRASH BAR - NOT INSTALLED
          TANK/HOPPER-LOCATION - FORWARD OF PILOT                  TERRAIN-TYPE -LEVEL,FLAT
          ELEVATION-AREA BEING TREATED-FEET -  1040
        REMARKS- ASPHALT AND DIRT RUNWAY
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N609H](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N609H-2017-07-18), registration cancelled 2017-07-18, S/N 1180, built 1929 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: TRAVEL AIR 4000
- Registry model: [Travel Air 4000](https://openairdocs.org/model/travel-air-4000) (registry code 2621818) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming R680-4P-B4](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-r680-4p-b4) (registry code 41542, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Airport: Country Boys

## 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 19780712021349A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19780712021349A), Jul 12, 1978: Curtis TRVAIR4D, Tolleson, AZ, Destroyed. Asphalt and dirt runway.

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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