# Accident 20020607013789A: Piper PA32R301, Meridian, MS, June 7, 2002

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: June 7, 2002, 12:50 local time
- Place: Meridian, MS
- Airport: Key Field Airport
- Damage: No damage
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 32.3322° N, 88.7511° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.3322&lon=-88.7511&mi=10
- Aircraft: N697MA, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N697MA-2004-05-21) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-32R-301 (registry code 7103218, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-32r-301) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming 0-540 series (registry code 41532, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-540-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA32R301
- Fatal injuries: 0
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB MIA02LA108](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA02LA108) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020607013789A

## Narrative

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

(-23) THE PILOT WAS CONDUCTING PRACTICE INSTRUMENT APPROACHES, WHEN ON A MISSED APPROACH THE AIRCRAFT LOST POWER. THE PILOT DECLARED AN EMERGENCY AND TURNED TOWARD THE RUNWAY HE WAS CLEARED TO LAND. HE WAS UNABLE TO MAKE IT TO THE RUNWAY AND CRASHED ONE MILE SW OF RWY 1. THE AIRCRAFT WAS TOTALLY DAMAGED AND THE PILOT WAS INJURED. (.19) ON JUNE 7, 2002 ABOUT 1348 CENTRAL DAYLIGHT TIME, A PIPER PA-32R-301, N697MA, REGISTERED TO A PRIVATE INDIVIDUAL, IMPACTED WITH THE GROUND DURING A FORCED LANDING NEAR KEY FIELD AIRPORT, MERIDIAN, MISSISSIPPI. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED AT THE TIME AND NO FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED FOR THE 14 CFR PART 91 LOCAL PERSONAL FLIGHT. THE AIRPLANE WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED. THE PRIVATE-RATED PILOT REPORTED SERIOUS INJURIES. THE FLIGHT HAD ORIGINATED FROM THE SAME AIRPORT ABOUT 1330. ACCORDING TO THE FAA THE PILOT WAS PRACTICING INSTRUMENT APPROACHES IN VFR CONDITION, AND HAD COMPLETED A PRACTICE INSTRUMENT APPROACH TO RUNWAY 1. THE PILOT WAS FOLLOWING THE PUBLISHED MISSED APPROACH AND THE FLIGHT HAD ATTAINED AN ALTITUDE OF ABOUT 500 TO 600 FEET WHEN THE PILOT REPORTED HE WAS HAVING ENGINE PROBLEMS. HE WAS                                           CLEARED TO LAND, AND WAS TURNING LEFT ON A SHORT BASE LEG TO RUNWAY 1, WHEN HE REPORTED THAT THE ENGINE LOST COMPLETE POWER, AND HE COULD NOT MAKE IT TO THE RUNWAY. THE PILOT ELECTED TO LAND IN A FIELD, AND IMPACT WITH TREES ABOUT 2 MILES SOUTHWEST OF THE RUNWAY THRESHOLD.

## 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 MIA02LA108](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA02LA108), Jun 7, 2002: Piper PA-32R-301 (N697MA), Meridian, MS, substantial damage. Probable cause: inadequate quality control of the manufacturing processes of the crankshaft gear bolt, resulting in failure of the gear bolt, due to hydrogen embrittlement, a total loss of engine power, and damage…

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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