# Accident 20030331004989A: Piper PA32300, Broken Arrow, OK, March 31, 2003

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: March 31, 2003, 15:55 local time
- Place: Broken Arrow, OK
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Fcd/Prec Ldg From Cruise
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 36.0536° N, 95.7894° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.0536&lon=-95.7894&mi=10
- Aircraft: N70NZ, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N70NZ-2018-01-23) (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
- Reported engine: LYC IO540*
- People aboard: 3
- Fatal injuries: 3
- Pilot flight hours: 150 total, 130 in this make and model
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB FTW03FA120](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW03FA120) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030331004989A

## Narrative

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

(-23) THE AIRCRAFT DEPARTED FROM R.L. JONES (RVS) AT 1430 EN ROUTE TO LOCUST GROVE, OK TO LOOK AT PROPERTY AND INTENDED TO RETURN TO RVS, NO FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED. WHILE ENROUTE BACK TO RVS, THE PILOT CONTACTED TULSA APPROACH AND REPORTED A ROUGH ENGINE AND A LOSS OF OIL PRESSURE. WITNESSES REPORTED SMOKE TRAILING THE AIRCRAFT. TULSA APPROACH ADVISED THE PILOT THAT HARVEY YOUNG AIRPORT (1H6) WAS THREE MILES WEST. THE PILOT STATED HE WOULD TRY TO MAKE IT TO RVS. THE PILOT AGAIN CONTACTED THE TULSA APPROACH AND ADVISED THAT HE WILL LAND AT 1H6. WHILE ENROUTE TO 1H6 THE PILOT AGAIN CONTACTED TULSA APPROACH AND STATED THAT HE LOST OIL PRESSURE THEN ENGINE QUIT AND THERE WAS SMOKE IN THE CABIN. AT THIS TIME THE PILOT STATED HE WILL TRY TO LAND IN A FIELD THAT HE WAS OVER. AT THIS TIME THE AIRCRAFT TURNED RIGHT AND NOSED OVER AND IMPACTED THE TERRAIN. THE AIRCRAFT WAS DESTROYED AND MOSTLY CONSUMED BY A POST IMPACT FIRE. THE PILOT AND TWO PASSENGERS RECEIVED FATAL INJURIES. THE PROPELLER BLADES WERE BOTH BENT AFT AND DID NOT SHOW LEADING EDGE DAMAGE OR FACE POLISHING.

## 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 FTW03FA120](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW03FA120), Mar 31, 2003: Piper PA-32-300 (N70NZ), Broken Arrow, OK, destroyed, 3 fatal. Probable cause: Failure of the engine due to the blow-by condition in the number six cylinder for undetermined reasons, which resulted in oil starvation and eventual failure of the associated connecting rod end cap.…

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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