# Accident 19890311003579A: Piper PA32R300, Southbridge, MA, March 11, 1989

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: March 11, 1989, 21:45 local time
- Place: Southbridge, MA
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Scud Running
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 42.0751° N, 72.0334° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Southbridge, MA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.0751&lon=-72.0334&mi=10
- Aircraft: N301WA, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N301WA-1992-02-11) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-32R-300 (registry code 7103213, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-32r-300) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA32R300
- Reported engine: LYC IO540K1G5D
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 2
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB NYC89FA099](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC89FA099) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19890311003579A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

DEPARTED VFR AT NIGHT. ENCOUNTERED SNOW SHOWERS. LOST CONTROL CIRCLING TRYING TO FIND AIRPORT.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (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 NYC89FA099](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC89FA099), Mar 12, 1989: Piper PA-32R-300 (N301WA), Southbridge, MA, destroyed, 2 fatal. Probable cause: POOR JUDGEMENT OF THE PILOT BY FLYING WHILE PHYSICALLY IMPAIRED BY ALCOHOL, AND HIS CONTINUED VFR FLIGHT INTO INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS (IMC). RELATED FACTORS WERE: THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE…

## Other reports on N301WA (2)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Incident 19861015066269I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19861015066269I), Oct 15, 1986: Piper PA32R300 (N301WA), Southbridge, MA, Minor damage. Pilot failed to check gear position prior to landing. Gear was not extended until moments before touchdown.
- [Incident 19830925074961I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19830925074961I), Sep 25, 1983: Piper PA32R300 (N301WA), Orlando, FL, Minor damage. Unable to lower landing gear by normal or emergency extension. Landed gear up.

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. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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