# NTSB NYC79DA077: Piper PA-18, N8478Y, Chatam, MA, August 15, 1979

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: August 15, 1979
- Place: Chatam, MA · CHATAM, MA
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report August 21, 1979
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 135583
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC79DA077
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC79DA077

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-0378  79/8/15  NR.CHATAM,MA          PIPER PA-18         CR-  0  0  1  COMMERCIAL                COMMERCIAL, AGE 27, 923
        TIME - 1230                    N8478Y              PX-  0  0  0  FISH SPOTTING             TOTAL HOURS, 556 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          OAK BLUFFS, MA              LOCAL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           ENGINE FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION                            IN FLIGHT: NORMAL CRUISE
           DITCHING                                                 LANDING: LEVEL OFF/TOUCHDOWN
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           POWERPLANT - MISCELLANEOUS: POWERPLANT FAILURE FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS
        FACTOR(S)
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - AIRCRAFT CAME TO REST IN WATER
        COMPLETE POWER LOSS - COMPLETE ENGINE FAILURE/FLAMEOUT-1 ENGINE
        EMERGENCY CIRCUMSTANCES - FORCED LANDING OFF AIRPORT ON WATER
        REMARKS- AIRCRAFT WAS DITCHED IN ATLANTIC OCEAN,NOT RECOVERED.PIC REPORTED LOSS OF ENGINE POWER.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N8478Y](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8478Y-2009-09-11), registration cancelled 2009-09-11, S/N 18-8875, built 1970 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-18
- Registry model: [Piper PA-18-150](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-18-150) (registry code 7101828) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, 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 19790815044259A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19790815044259A), Aug 15, 1979: Piper PA18150, Monomoy Point M, MA, Destroyed. Engine lost power during fish spotting. Ditched in ocean. Airplane sank. Cause of power loss unknown.

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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