Piper PA-28R-201 accident near Santo Domingo Pueblo, New Mexico, December 28, 2008
On December 28, 2008 at about 3:30 pm local time, a Piper PA-28R-201, registered N3064M, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute (cruise) near Santo Domingo Pueblo, New Mexico. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A loss of engine power due a loss of oil pressure resulting in heat distress and mechanical failure of the engine. The reason for the loss of oil pressure was not determined.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 28, 2008 · about 3:30 pm local time
- Place
- Santo Domingo Pueblo, New Mexico · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28R-201 · all PA-28R-201s on the register
- Registration
- N3064M · no longer on the register · serial 28R-7803162
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
Following a three-hour preheat, utilizing a Tanis heater, the flight departed and entered a cruise condition at 10,500 feet. While in cruise flight, the pilot noted a loss of oil pressure and reversed course to head back to the airport. While en route to the airport the engine began to run rough and eventually stopped running. During the forced landing, the right wing impacted a fence post resulting in substantial damage. Examination of the engine revealed a large hole just above the number two cylinder orifice, in addition to mechanical damage throughout the engine. The number one and two connecting rods, bearings, and journals all exhibited extensive mechanical and lubrication damage consistent with oil starvation. An examination of the remaining engine components revealed no anomalies. The reason for the loss of oil pressure and oil starvation in the engine was not determined.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Loss of engine power (total) during enroute (cruise) defining event
- Off-field or emergency landing during landing
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Engine (reciprocating) › Recip engine power section › Failure
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Engine (reciprocating) › Recip eng oil sys › Failure
- cause Not determined › Not determined › (general) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Fence/fence post › Contributed to outcome
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 665 hours in all; 22 in this make and model; 26 in the last 90 days; 12 in the last 30 days; 624 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: January 23, 2008
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,158 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 1, 2007
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Cont Motor TSIO-360 SER (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: KSAF Sante Fe NM at 3:15 pm
- Destination: KSDL Scottsdale AZ
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 18°F (-8°C), dew point 3°F (-16°C)
- Altimeter: 30.31 inHg
- Observation at 2:53 pm from KSAF
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.