# Accident 19961205037239A: Piper PA32300, Reform, AL, December 5, 1996

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: December 5, 1996, 18:50 local time
- Place: Reform, AL
- Airport: North Pickens Airport
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Fcd/Prec Ldg From Cruise
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 33.3701° N, 88.0102° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.3701&lon=-88.0102&mi=10
- Aircraft: N8603N, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8603N-2014-11-20) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-32-300 (registry code 7103212, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-32-300) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming TI0-540 series (registry code 41533, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-ti0-540-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA32300
- Reported engine: LYC IO540K1A5
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 1
- Pilot flight hours: 2,370 total
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB MIA97FA031](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA97FA031) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19961205037239A

## Narrative

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

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.

## 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 MIA97FA031](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA97FA031), Dec 6, 1996: Piper PA32-300D (N8603N), Reform, AL, destroyed, 1 fatal. Probable cause: a 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…

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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