# NTSB LAX80DXQ15: Piper PA-28R, N38398, Wendover, UT, November 23, 1979

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: November 23, 1979
- Place: Wendover, UT · WENDOVER, UT
- Location: 40.7240° N, 114.0251° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Wendover, UT, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.7240&lon=-114.0251&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 4 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report February 27, 1980
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 132779
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX80DXQ15
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX80DXQ15

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-3873  79/11/23 NR.WENDOVER,UT        PIPER PA-28R        CR-  0  0  1  NONCOMMERCIAL             COMMERCIAL, AGE 30, 280
        TIME - 1620                    N38398              PX-  0  0  3  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, 8 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          SALT LAKE CITY,UT           WELLS,NV.
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           ENGINE FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION                            IN FLIGHT: NORMAL CRUISE
           COLLIDED WITH: SNOWBANK                                  LANDING: ROLL
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           POWERPLANT - ENGINE STRUCTURE: MASTER AND CONNECTING RODS
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - MATERIAL FAILURE
           MISCELLANEOUS - EVASIVE MANEUVER TO AVOID COLLISION
        FACTOR(S)
           TERRAIN - SNOW-COVERED
        PARTIAL POWER LOSS - PARTIAL LOSS OF POWER - 1 ENGINE
        EMERGENCY CIRCUMSTANCES - FORCED LANDING OFF AIRPORT ON LAND
        REMARKS- NO 1 CONNECTING ROD ASSY FAILED.DRG FORCED LNDG ON HIWAY,PLT TURNED/HIT SNOW BANK TO AVOID CAR.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N38398](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N38398-2013-05-09), registration cancelled 2013-05-09, S/N 28R-7703213, built 1977 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28R
- Registry model: [Piper PA-28R-201T](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28r-201t) (registry code 7102813) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental TSIO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-tsio-360-series) (registry code 17019, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage

## 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 19791123036909A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19791123036909A), Nov 23, 1979: Piper PA28/, Wendover, UT, Substantial damage. Engine surged, low oil pressure. Crash landed on highway. Rod bearing failure. Loss of oil due open oil filler cap

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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