# NTSB LAX79FA019: Piper PA-32, N4008R, Sun City, AZ, December 24, 1978

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: December 24, 1978
- Place: Sun City, AZ · SUN CITY, AZ
- Location: 33.6155° N, 112.2831° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Sun City, AZ, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.6155&lon=-112.2831&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal, 2 minor, 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report February 1, 1979
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 138461
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX79FA019
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX79FA019

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-3848  78/12/24 NR.SUN CITY,AZ        PIPER PA-32         CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             COMMERCIAL, AGE 39, 1040
        TIME - 1530                    N4008R              PX-  1  0  4  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, 400 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
         SUN CITY,AZ                  LOCAL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           AIRFRAME FAILURE: IN FLIGHT                              IN FLIGHT: NORMAL CRUISE
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
          MISC-PREMATURE CHUTE OPENING
        FACTOR(S)
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - SEPARATION IN FLIGHT
        REMARKS- CHUTE PULLED JUMPER THRU DOOR FRAME,TAIL SEPRTD.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N4008R](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4008R-1979-01-10), registration cancelled 1979-01-10, S/N 32-40300, built 1967 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-32
- Registry model: [Piper PA-32-300](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-32-300) (registry code 7103212) (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 19781224041389A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19781224041389A), Dec 24, 1978: Piper PA32RT300, Sun City, AZ, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Chute pulled jumper thru door frame,tail seprtd. Misc-premature chopening

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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