# Accident 20060625012949A: Piper PA34220T, Tafton, PA, June 25, 2006

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: June 25, 2006, 12:50 local time
- Place: Tafton, PA
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Normal Cruise
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 41.4158° N, 75.1933° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.4158&lon=-75.1933&mi=10
- Aircraft: N8371X, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8371X-2007-06-18) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-34-220T (registry code 7103420, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-34-220t) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Continental TSIO-360 series (registry code 17019, https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-tsio-360-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA34220T
- Reported engine: CONT TSIO360*
- People aboard: 3
- Fatal injuries: 3
- Pilot flight hours: 1,727 total, 28 in this make and model, 42 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB NYC06FA155](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC06FA155) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20060625012949A

## Narrative

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

(-23) THE AIRCRAFT DEPARTED GSO ON 06/25/06 AT 1015 LOCAL TIME ENROUTE TO SFM ON AN IFR FLIGHT PLAN WITH FULL FUEL AND THREE PEOPLE ONBOARD. RADAR DATA INDICATES THE AIRCRAFT WAS ON A NORTHEASTERLY HEADING AT 6,900 FEET OVER TAFTON, PA IN INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS, WITH MODERATE RAIN WHEN IT APPEARED TO DESCEND, AND TURN SHARPLY TO A NORTHWESTERLY HEADING. RADAR CONTACT WAS LOST AT 5,300 FEET. WITNESSES REPORTED SEEING THE AIRCRAFT DESCENDING AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED WITH THE ENGINES "REVVING", THEY REPORTED HEARING TWO "POPS", AND OBSERVED AIRCRAFT PARTS AND OTHER DEBRIS FALLING. THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTED AT APPROXIMATELY AN 80 DEGREE NOSE DOWN ANGLE SHORTLY AFTER IN A WOODED AREA AT APPROXIMATELY 1250 LOCAL TIME, WITH A DEBRIS FIELD OF APPROXIMATELY 75 FEET EXCEPT FOR THE TWO WINGS THAT SEPARATED OUTBOARD OF BOTH ENGINES AND CAME TO REST APPROXIMATELY 1/8 MILE FROM THE MAIN WRECKAGE IN-LINE WITH THE AIRCRAFT'S FLIGHT PATH. ENGINE TEARDOWN DID NOT REVEAL ANY ENGINE PROBLEMS, AND THE AIRCRAFT MANUFACTURER FOUND NO ANOMALIES OTHER THAN THOSE CAUSED BY OVERSTRESSING THE AIRFRAME. THE CORONER STATED THERE WAS NO IMMEDIATE EVIDENCE OF STROKE OR HEART PROBLEMS WITH THE PILOT IN COMMAND.

## 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 NYC06FA155](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC06FA155), Jun 25, 2006: Piper PA-34-220T (N8371X), Tafton, PA, destroyed, 3 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot's inadvertent encounter with a thunderstorm, which resulted in a loss of aircraft control, and a subsequent in-flight breakup.

## Other reports on N8371X (1)

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

- [Incident 19940109004029I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19940109004029I), Jan 9, 1994: Piper PA34220T (N8371X), Orlando, FL, Minor damage. Narrative: taxi to rwy 36L- left prop struck runway edge light- removed 2 inches of left prop blade. Pilot lined up between center line and edge lights struck…

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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