# Accident 20080901844189A: Piper PA32260, Cumberland, RI, September 1, 2008

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: September 1, 2008, 08:30 local time
- Place: Cumberland, RI
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Normal Cruise
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 41.9714° N, 71.5619° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.9714&lon=-71.5619&mi=10
- Aircraft: N5529J, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N5529J) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-32-260 (registry code 7103206, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-32-260) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming 0-540 series (registry code 41532, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-540-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA32260
- Reported engine: LYC O540*
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 589 total, 392 in this make and model, 21 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB NYC08LA299](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC08LA299) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20080901844189A

## Narrative

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

(-23) ON SEPTEMBER 01, 2008, AT APPROXIMATELY 0830 (EDT), A PIPER PA-32-260, N5529J BEING FLOWN BY A PRIVATE PILOT ON A PERSONAL TRIP MADE AN OFF-AIRPORT EMERGENCY LANDING.  THE AIRCRAFT SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE.  THE PILOT OF THE AIRCRAFT STATED IN A WRITTEN STATEMENT, AFTER DEPARTING FROM PROVIDENCE, RI AIRPORT (PVD) IN CRUISE FLIGHT AT AN ALTITUDE OF 7500 FEET THE AIRCRAFT SEEMED TO LOOSE POWER.  THE AIRACRAFT NOSE PITCHED DOWN AND THE PROPELLER CONTROL WOULD NOT RESPOND.  AFTER CYCLING PROPELLER CONTROL WITH NO RESULTS, THE PILOT STATED HE DECLARED AN EMERGENCY WITH BOSTON CENTER AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL (ATC).  THE PILOT ALSO STATED THAT AFTER ATC DIRECTED HIM TO NORTH CENTRAL STATE AIRPORT, RHODE ISLAND (SFZ), IT BECAME APPARENT HE WAS NOT GOING TO MAKE THE AIRPORT.  THE PILOT ELECTED TO MAKE AN OFF-AIRPORT LANDING ON A FIELD IN CUMBERLAND, RI.  THE AIRCRAFT TRAVELED APPROXIMATELY 1000 FEET AFTER TOUCHDOWN WHEN THE LEFT WING STRUCK A TREE.  THIS RESULTED IN DAMAGE TO THE LEFT WING STRUCTURAL SUPPORTS THAT INCLUDED THE LEFT WING SEPARATING FROM THE FUSELAGE AT THE ROOT.

## 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 NYC08LA299](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC08LA299), Sep 1, 2008: Piper PA-32-260 (N5529J), Cumberland, RI, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's improper fuel management practices, which resulted in fuel starvation and a complete power loss. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's misdiagnosis of the situation, and his…

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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