19961205037239A

Accident · Destroyed

FAA accident report · Piper PA-32-300 · Reform, AL · December 5, 1996

Date: December 5, 1996 · 18:50 local
Place: Reform, AL
Airport: North Pickens Airport
Phase of flight: Fcd/Prec Ldg From Cruise
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Destroyed
Aircraft: N8603N
NTSB investigation: NTSBMIA97FA031
Reported as: Piper PA32300
Reported engine: Lycoming IO540K1A5
People aboard: 1
Fatal injuries: 1
Pilot’s flight hours: 2,370 total

N8603NRegistration cancelled Nov 20, 2014 · Piper PA-32-300S/N 32-7140055 · Built 1971 Airframe modelPiper PA-32-300 Engine modelLycoming TI0-540 seriesTurbo-prop

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry 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.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

Engine quit on night unauthorized ferry flight. Failed to annual plane prior. Flown 30HRS since 1988. Mags failed. (-23) on December 5, 1996, N8603N departed aberdeen, MS, (M40) destined for tampa, FL. Shortly after departure, the pilot contacted columbus afb approach control for flight following. In the vicinity of Reform, AL, pilot reported loss of power/having engine problems. Aircraft maneuvering to land at Reform airport (3M8) and crashed in a wooded area approximately one mile west of the airport.

As the FAA filed it

ENGINE QUIT ON NIGHT UNAUTHORIZED FERRY FLIGHT. FAILED TO ANNUAL PLANE PRIOR. FLOWN 30HRS SINCE 1988. MAGS FAILED. (-23) ON DECEMBER 5, 1996, N8603N DEPARTED ABERDEEN, MS, (M40) DESTINED FOR TAMPA, FL. SHORTLY AFTER DEPARTURE, THE PILOT CONTACTED COLUMBUS AFB APPROACH CONTROL FOR FLIGHT FOLLOWING. IN THE VICINITY OF REFORM, AL, PILOT REPORTED LOSS OF POWER/HAVING ENGINE PROBLEMS. AIRCRAFT MANEUVERING TO LAND AT REFORM AIRPORT (3M8) AND CRASHED IN A WOODED AREA APPROXIMATELY ONE MILE WEST OF THE AIRPORT.

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.

NTSB MIA97FA031Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportReform, ALa complete loss of engine power due to a total failure of both magnetos, and the failure of the pilot-in-command to insure that the airplane was airworthy. The dark night and unsuitable terrain were factors.Dec 6, 1996 · Destroyed