# Accident 19970512010249A: Piper PA32R300, Burbank, CA, May 12, 1997

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: May 12, 1997, 06:30 local time
- Place: Burbank, CA
- Airport: Burbank-Glendale-Pasadena Airp
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Climb
- Operating rules: Air taxi and commuter (Part 135)
- Operator: JIKA
- Location: 34.1901° N, 118.3264° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Burbank, CA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.1901&lon=-118.3264&mi=10
- Aircraft: N3609Q, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N3609Q) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-32R-300 (registry code 7103213, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-32r-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 PA32R300
- Reported engine: LYC IO540K1G5
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 1,350 total, 70 in this make and model, 100 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB LAX97LA181](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX97LA181) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970512010249A

## Narrative

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

UPPER ENGINE COWL CAME OFF IN FLIGHT. LODGED ON TAIL SECTION. FELL OFF LANDING. MAINTENANCE FAILED SECURE COWLING.

## 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 LAX97LA181](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX97LA181), May 12, 1997: Piper PA-32R-300 (N3609Q), Burbank, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: improperly secured upper cowl fasteners by unknown person(s).

## Other reports on N3609Q (2)

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

- [Accident 20250624014889A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20250624014889A), Jun 24, 2025: Piper PA-32R-300 (N3609Q), Big Lake, AK, Substantial damage. On June 24, 2025, about 0934 Alaska daylight time, a Piper PA-32R-300 airplane was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Big Lake,…
- [Incident 19901006058789I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19901006058789I), Oct 6, 1990: Piper PA32R300 (N3609Q), Van Nuys, CA, Minor damage. Gear unsafe light remained illuminated on climb. Returned. 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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