# Accident 19940311004919A: Piper PA32260, Beckley, WV, March 11, 1994

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: March 11, 1994, 10:38 local time
- Place: Beckley, WV
- Airport: Raleigh County Memorial
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Fcd/Prec Ldg From Cruise
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 37.7794° N, 81.1798° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.7794&lon=-81.1798&mi=10
- Aircraft: N3817W, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3817W-1996-05-30) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-32-260 (registry code 7103206, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-32-260) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA32260
- Reported engine: LYC O540E4B5
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 275 total
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB NYC94LA057](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC94LA057) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19940311004919A

## Narrative

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

DEPARTED, CLIMBED TO 7000FT. LOST POWER. LANDED HILLY TERRAIN. RUST AND WATER IN FUEL.

## 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 NYC94LA057](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC94LA057), Mar 11, 1994: Piper PA-32-260 (N3817W), Beckley, WV, substantial damage. Probable cause: A LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DUE TO FUEL CONTAMINATION, WHILE OPERATING OVER UNSUITABLE TERRAIN, AFTER THE PILOT FAILED TO REMOVE ALL THE WATER FROM THE TANK PRIOR TO DEPARTURE. A FACTOR WAS THE PILOT'S…

## Other reports on N3817W (1)

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

- [Incident 19910706034179I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19910706034179I), Jul 6, 1991: Piper PA32260 (N3817W), Rainelle, WV, Minor damage. On climb after takeoff left wing hit tree tops. Continued. Longer takeoff roll due to high grass on turf runway.

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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