# NTSB MKC78FCJ36: Piper PA-28, N44123, Gothenburg, NE, August 4, 1978

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Closed
- Date: August 4, 1978
- Place: Gothenburg, NE · GOTHENBURG, NE
- Location: 40.9247° N, 100.1539° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Gothenburg, NE, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.9247&lon=-100.1539&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious, 2 minor
- Status: Completed, report September 13, 1978
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 140649
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MKC78FCJ36
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MKC78FCJ36

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-2009   78/8/4    GOTHENBURG,NE       PIPER PA-28         CR-  0  0  1  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 32, 122
        TIME - 1205                    N44123              PX-  0  1  1  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, 102 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          GOTHENBURG,NE               LOCAL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           ENGINE FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION                            IN FLIGHT: NORMAL CRUISE
           HARD LANDING                                             LANDING: LEVEL OFF/TOUCHDOWN
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           POWERPLANT - ENGINE STRUCTURE: VALVE ASSEMBLIES
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - MATERIAL FAILURE
        FACTOR(S)
           TERRAIN - HIGH OBSTRUCTIONS
        PARTIAL POWER LOSS - PARTIAL LOSS OF POWER - 1 ENGINE
        EMERGENCY CIRCUMSTANCES - FORCED LANDING OFF AIRPORT ON LAND
        REMARKS- VALVE HEAD FRACTURED.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N44123](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N44123-1981-01-12), registration cancelled 1981-01-12, S/N 28-7425390, built 1974 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28
- Registry model: [Piper PA-28-140](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-140) (registry code 7102802) (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 19780804020479A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19780804020479A), Aug 4, 1978: Piper PA28140, Gothenburg, NE, Destroyed. Valve head fractured.

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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