# Accident 20040321004529A: Piper PA32R301, Harlan, KY, March 21, 2004

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: March 21, 2004, 21:00 local time
- Place: Harlan, KY
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Normal Cruise
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 36.8396° N, 83.3196° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.8396&lon=-83.3196&mi=10
- Aircraft: N8173U, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8173U-2004-11-03) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-32R-301 (registry code 7103218, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-32r-301) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming IO-540 series (registry code 41530, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-540-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA32R301
- Reported engine: LYC IO540*
- People aboard: 6
- Fatal injuries: 6
- Pilot flight hours: 425 total, 59 in this make and model
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB NYC04FA092](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC04FA092) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20040321004529A

## Narrative

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

(-23) AIRCRAFT DEPARTED UDG (DARLINGTON, SC) TO BLOOMINGTON, IL (BMI) ENROUTE TO BMI. THE PLANE WAS REPORTED OVERDUE AND SEARCH INITIATED. WRECKAGE WAS LOCATED NEAR HARLAN, KY ON LITTLE BLACK MOUNTAIN AND MARCH 24, 2004. ELEVATION 3050 FEET MSL. THE PILOT AND FIVE PASSENGERS WERE FATALLY INJURED.

## 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 NYC04FA092](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC04FA092), Mar 22, 2004: Piper PA-32R-301 (N8173U), Harlan, KY, destroyed, 6 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot's improper decision to continue VFR flight into IMC conditions and his failure to maintain terrain clearance, which resulted in controlled flight into terrain. Factors were night, snow and…

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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