# N5538J: Piper PA-32-260, registration cancelled 2000-03-22

- Type: Cancelled registration (FAA registry, deregistered aircraft)
- Cancelled: March 22, 2000
- Status when cancelled: Triennial form not returned
- Airframe: [Piper PA-32-260](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-32-260) (registry code 7103206)
- Data sheets: [TCDS A3SO](https://openairdocs.org/tcds/A3SO) (OpenAirDocs)
- Serial number: 32-1002
- Type of aircraft: Fixed wing single engine
- Certificate issued: January 24, 1997
- Last registry action: January 18, 2000
- Mode S code: A70E09
- Owner when cancelled: [N5538j Inc](https://openairdocs.org/faa-owner/N5538J%20INC)
- Location: [California, MD](https://openairdocs.org/faa-place/MD/California)
- Owner type: Corporation
- Owner's area on the map: 38.2925° N, 76.5277° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at the center of ZIP code 20619, within about 2 miles (OpenAirDocs). The owner's mailing address, not where the aircraft was based
- The mark today: https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N5538J
- FAA registry: https://registry.faa.gov/AircraftInquiry/Search/NNumberResult?nNumberTxt=5538J
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5538J-2000-03-22

From the FAA registry file of October 29, 2026, cancelled registrations. Owners' street addresses are left out. The Mode S code belongs to the N-number, not the airframe.

ADs and bulletins for the Piper PA-32-260: https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-32-260.md

## NTSB investigations (1)

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.

- [NTSB NYC97FA025](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC97FA025), Dec 3, 1996: Piper PA-32-260 (N5538J), Felton, PA, destroyed, 1 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot's inadequate preflight planning and preparation, and his failure to refuel which resulted in fuel exhaustion and the subsequent collision with trees during the forced landing.

## FAA accident and incident reports (1)

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [Accident 19961202036989A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19961202036989A), Dec 2, 1996: Piper PA32260 (N5538J), Felton, PA, Destroyed, 1 fatal. (.4)The pilot departed the round trip cross country flight with a total of 50 gallons of fuel. The first flight was 2 hours and 15 minutes. Prior to the return…

## Other aircraft with N5538J

- [Cancelled 2017-12-12](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5538J-2017-12-12): Thrush S2R-H80, S/N H80-207DC, built 2017. Exported to Brazil. Owner: [Thrush Aircraft Inc](https://openairdocs.org/faa-owner/THRUSH%20AIRCRAFT%20INC), [Albany, GA](https://openairdocs.org/faa-place/GA/Albany)

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.