# NTSB NYC79FGM48: Piper PA-32, N6838J, Erie, PA, September 24, 1979

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: September 24, 1979
- Place: Erie, PA · ERIE, PA
- Location: 42.1166° N, 80.0735° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Erie, PA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.1166&lon=-80.0735&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report November 11, 1979
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 132726
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC79FGM48
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC79FGM48

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-3652  79/9/24    ERIE,PA             PIPER PA-32         CR-  0  0  1  MISCELLANEOUS             COMMERCIAL, AGE 71, 11742
        TIME - 1415                    N6838J              PX-  0  0  0  FERRY                     TOTAL HOURS, 8 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - ERIE
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          ERIE,PA                     ASHTABULA COUNTY,OH
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           ENGINE FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION                            IN FLIGHT: CLIMB TO CRUISE
           COLLIDED WITH: TREES                                     LANDING: FINAL APPROACH
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           POWERPLANT - FUEL SYSTEM: SELECTOR VALVES
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - WARPED
           PILOT IN COMMAND - MISMANAGEMENT OF FUEL
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - FUEL SELECTOR POSITIONED BETWEEN TANKS
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - FUEL STARVATION
        FACTOR(S)
           TERRAIN - HIGH OBSTRUCTIONS
        COMPLETE POWER LOSS - COMPLETE ENGINE FAILURE/FLAMEOUT-1 ENGINE
        REMARKS- SPG LOADED FUEL SEL STOP LODGED BHND WARPED COVER ALLOWING SEL TO MOVE THRU L TANK TO OFF PSN.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N6838J](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6838J-1981-04-29), registration cancelled 1981-04-29, S/N 32R 7680360 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-32
- Registry model: [Piper PA-32R-300](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-32r-300) (registry code 7103213) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Airport: Erie

## 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 19790924026979A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19790924026979A), Sep 24, 1979: Piper PA32R300, Erie, PA, Substantial damage. Lost power after takeoff, hit trees. Moved fuel selector. Engine caught. Stayed aloft. Landed okay.

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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