# Accident 19970726019689A: Piper PA32300, Pine Bluff, AR, July 26, 1997

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: July 26, 1997, 06:27 local time
- Place: Pine Bluff, AR
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 34.2107° N, 92.0094° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.2107&lon=-92.0094&mi=10
- Aircraft: N38800, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N38800-2026-10-02) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-32-300 (registry code 7103212, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-32-300) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming IO-540 series (registry code 41530, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-540-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA32300
- Fatal injuries: 0
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB FTW97LA284](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW97LA284) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970726019689A

## Narrative

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

DEVELOPED A ROUGH RUNNING ENGINE, UNABLE TO MAINTAIN ALTITUDE, MADE EMERGENCY LANDING, RAN INTO A RICE PADDY. (-23) INSPECTOR NEAL SOWERS (STL FSDO), WAS PRESENT DURING THE PREPARATION AND ENGINE RUN ON PA-32-300, N38800, ON AUGUST 26, 1997, AT LOSS MANAGEMENT SERVICES, INC. INPSPECTOR SOWERS STATED THAT THE ENGINE STARTED EASILY AND QUICKLY, AND IT RAN SMOOTHLY FROM IDLE TO MAX RPM IN A SATISFACTORY MANNER. THERE DID NOT APPEAR TO BE ANYTHING TO CAUSE A ROUGH RUNNING ENGINE. THE CAUSE FOR THIS ACCIDENT IS UNDETERMINED.

## 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 FTW97LA284](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW97LA284), Jul 26, 1997: Piper PA-32-300 (N38800), Pine Bluff, AR, substantial damage. Probable cause: loss of engine power for undetermined reason(s). The lack of suitable terrain for a forced landing was a related factor.

## Other reports on N38800 (1)

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

- [Accident 19921025045369A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19921025045369A), Oct 25, 1992: Piper PA32300 (N38800), Fort Pierce, FL, Substantial damage. Engine lost power on final. Chose landing nearby canal. Fuel servo restricted by ferrous metal on air side.

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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