# NTSB LAX79DVA29: Piper PA-28, N9434W, Avenal, CA, April 20, 1979

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Closed
- Date: April 20, 1979
- Place: Avenal, CA · AVENAL, CA
- Location: 36.0311° N, 120.1162° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Avenal, CA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.0311&lon=-120.1162&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor, 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report May 29, 1979
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 136582
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX79DVA29
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX79DVA29

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-0734  79/4/20  NR.AVENAL,CA          PIPER PA-28         CR-  0  0  1  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 56, 700
        TIME - 1600                    N9434W              PX-  0  0  1  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, 125 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          FAIR OAKS,CA                SAN LUIS OBISPO,CA
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           ENGINE FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION                            IN FLIGHT: NORMAL CRUISE
           NOSE OVER/DOWN                                           LANDING: LEVEL OFF/TOUCHDOWN
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           POWERPLANT - MISCELLANEOUS: POWERPLANT FAILURE FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS
           TERRAIN - HIGH VEGETATION
        COMPLETE POWER LOSS - COMPLETE ENGINE FAILURE/FLAMEOUT-1 ENGINE
        EMERGENCY CIRCUMSTANCES - FORCED LANDING OFF AIRPORT ON LAND
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N9434W](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N9434W), registered now, S/N VE-7711 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28
- Registry model: [Piper/Valdes-Ervin PA-28-235](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-valdes-ervin-pa-28-235) (registry code 7102820) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-540-series) (registry code 41532, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed

## 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 19790420007449A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19790420007449A), Apr 20, 1979: Piper PA28235, Bakersfield, CA, Substantial damage. Aircraft received substantial damage in forced landing. No cause found for engine malfunction.

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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