# NTSB LAX79DUK20: Piper PA-36, N57759, Safford, AZ, September 28, 1979

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Closed
- Date: September 28, 1979
- Place: Safford, AZ · SAFFORD, AZ
- Location: 32.8333° N, 109.6974° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Safford, AZ, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.8333&lon=-109.6974&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor
- Status: Completed, report December 19, 1979
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 133631
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX79DUK20
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX79DUK20

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-2816  79/9/28    SAFFORD,AZ          PIPER PA-36         CR-  0  0  1  COMMERCIAL                COMMERCIAL, AGE 28, 2000
        TIME - 1700                    N57759              PX-  0  0  0  ASSOC CROP CTL ACTIVITY   TOTAL HOURS, 478 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - SAFFORD
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          SAFFORD,AZ                  LOCAL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           ENGINE FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION                            IN FLIGHT: SWATH RUN
           COLLIDED WITH: DIRT BANK                                 LANDING: LEVEL OFF/TOUCHDOWN
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           POWERPLANT - ENGINE STRUCTURE: CYLINDER ASSEMBLY
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - MATERIAL FAILURE
           TERRAIN - ROUGH/UNEVEN
        PARTIAL POWER LOSS - PARTIAL LOSS OF POWER - 1 ENGINE
        EMERGENCY CIRCUMSTANCES - FORCED LANDING OFF AIRPORT ON LAND
         SPECIAL DATA
          TOTAL HOURS IN CROP CONTROL - 1200                       KIND OF OPERATION - DEFOLIATION (LIQUID)
          KIND OF CROP - COTTON                                    TYPE OF CHEMICAL USED - LIQUID CHEMICAL-NONTOXIC
          PILOT' S SEAT BELT -UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED                 GLOVES - NOT USED
          GOGGLES - 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 -  3000                SWATH RUN-HOW FLOWN - WIND CALM
        REMARKS- NO 3 CYL HEAD FAILED.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N57759](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N57759-2013-06-27), registration cancelled 2013-06-27, S/N 36-7660073, built 1976 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-36
- Registry model: [Piper PA-36-285](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-36-285) (registry code 7103610) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Amateur-built UNKNOWN ENG](https://openairdocs.org/engine/amateur-built-unknown-eng) (registry code 99999) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Airport: Safford

## 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 19790928031179A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19790928031179A), Sep 28, 1979: Piper PA36285, Safford, AZ, Substantial damage. No.3 cylinder head had separated. Piston was battered and piston pin broken.

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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