Piper PA-32R-300 accident near Dalhart, Texas, June 25, 2004
On June 25, 2004 at about 8:45 pm local time, a Piper PA-32R-300, registered N49KG, was substantially damaged in an accident near Dalhart, Texas. 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
loss of engine power due to a corroded magneto for undetermined reasons.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 25, 2004 · about 8:45 pm local time
- Place
- Dalhart, Texas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-32R-300 · all PA-32R-300s on the register
- Registration
- N49KG · no longer on the register · serial 32R-7780112
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
During cruise climb at 10,400 feet, the engine lost power and the pilot executed a forced landing to a field. According to the pilot, after the engine lost power, he attempted to restart the engine; however, the restart was unsuccessful. During the forced landing, the left wing and right wingtip sustained structural damage, the fuselage was wrinkled, and the firewall was buckled. An examination of the airframe revealed no anomalies. An examination of the engine's dual magneto revealed internal corrosion. No other anomalies were noted with the engine. The magneto was bench tested and found operational.
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
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,000 hours in all; 1,000 in this make and model; 50 in the last 90 days; 25 in the last 30 days; 3,000 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: March 1, 2004
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,705 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 2, 2004; 48 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,600 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Teledyne Continental IO-540-K1G5D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: RTN Raton NM at 6:35 pm
- Destination: H45 Seminole OK
- Flight plan: IFR
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 110° at 9 knots, gusting 15
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 7,000 ft
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 30.15 inHg
- Observation at 8:53 pm from DHT, 21 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.