# NTSB LAX78FUJ96: Piper PA-28, N2938Q, Flagstaff, AZ, August 27, 1978

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: August 27, 1978
- Place: Flagstaff, AZ · FLAGSTAFF, AZ
- Location: 35.1981° N, 111.6513° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Flagstaff, AZ, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.1981&lon=-111.6513&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 4 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report October 6, 1978
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 140176
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX78FUJ96
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX78FUJ96

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-2528  78/8/27    FLAGSTAFF,AZ        PIPER PA-28         CR-  0  0  1  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 18, 63 TOTAL
        TIME - 1205                    N2938Q              PX-  0  0  3  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  HOURS, 5 IN TYPE, NOT
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - PULLIAM
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          FLAGSTAFF,AZ                VAN NUYS,CA
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           ENGINE FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION                            TAKEOFF: INITIAL CLIMB
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: CONTROLLED                  LANDING: LEVEL OFF/TOUCHDOWN
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           POWERPLANT - MISCELLANEOUS: POWERPLANT FAILURE FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE
           PILOT IN COMMAND - IMPROPER OPERATION OF POWERPLANT & POWERPLANT CONTROLS
        PARTIAL POWER LOSS - PARTIAL LOSS OF POWER - 1 ENGINE
        WEATHER BRIEFING - BRIEFED BY FLIGHT SERVICE PERSONNEL, IN PERSON
        EMERGENCY CIRCUMSTANCES - FORCED LANDING OFF AIRPORT ON LAND
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          CLEAR                                                    UNLIMITED
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          5 OR OVER(UNLIMITED)                                     NONE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          NONE                                                      75
        WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES                                   WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS
          210                                                       10
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          VFR                                                      VFR
        REMARKS- DENSITY ALTITUDE 9715FT.AS ENG RPM DECREASED MIXTURE WAS INCREASED TO FULL RICH.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N2938Q](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2938Q-1995-11-14), registration cancelled 1995-11-14, S/N 287790424 (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)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Airport: Pulliam

## 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 19780827026479A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19780827026479A), Aug 27, 1978: Piper PA28181, Flagstaff, AZ, Substantial damage. Density altitude 9715FT.as eng RPM decreased mixture was increase full rich.

## Other investigations on N2938Q (1)

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.

- [NTSB CHI94LA149](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI94LA149), May 6, 1994: Piper PA-28-181 (N2938Q), Chapman, NE, destroyed, 1 fatal. Probable cause: THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND'S ATTEMPTED VFR FLIGHT INTO INSTRUMENT WEATHER CONDITIONS WHICH RESULTED IN SPATIAL DISORIENTATION. FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH THE ACCIDENT WERE THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND'S OVER…

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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