# Accident 20140411005349A: Piper PA-32RT-300T, Cedar Grove, WV, April 11, 2014

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: April 11, 2014, 16:53 local time
- Place: Cedar Grove, WV
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 38.2158° N, 81.3944° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.2158&lon=-81.3944&mi=10
- Aircraft: N39965, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N39965-2016-12-14) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-32RT-300T (registry code 7103216, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-32rt-300t) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming TI0-540 series (registry code 41533, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-ti0-540-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-32RT-300T
- Reported engine: LYCOMING TI0-540 SER
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 2
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot, flight instructor, private pilot
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA14FA192](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA14FA192) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20140411005349A

## Narrative

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

AIRCRAFT WAS ON AN IFR FLIGHT FROM KAKR TO KSPA.  FLIGHTPLAN SHOWS AN ETD OF 1930Z, ETE OF 3.0 HOURS, WITH AN ENROUTE ALTITUDE FILED AT 12000'.

04/12/2014 - IIC ARRIVED AT COMMAND POST (WARD CEMETARY, CEDAR GROVE, WV) AT 0830 LOCAL. ARRIVED AT CRASH SITE AT APPROXIMATELY 1000.

AIRCRAFT APPEARS TO HAVE INITIALLY IMPACTED TREES IN A LOW-ANGLE, HIGH ENERGY TRAJECTORY.  MAIN SECTION OF AIRCRAFT STRUCK THE GROUND NOSE-FIRST AND FRAGMENTED INTO AN ELLIPTICAL PATTERN EXTENDING UPHILL FROM THE IMPACT POINT.  TREES LOCATED ALONG THE INITIAL PATH LEADING TO THE IMPACT POINT SUGGEST THAT THE ENGINE WAS OPERATING AND UNDER POWER AS THERE WAS AN INDICATION OF A FAIRLY CLEAN SLICE THROUGH A SECTION OF BRANCH/TRUNK THAT WAS APPROXIMATELY 5-6 INCHES IN DIAMETER.

AIRCRAFT WAS DESTROYED AND ALL OCCUPANTS (1 PILOT, 1 PASSENGER, 1 DOG) WERE FATALLY INJURED.  TWO FUEL TANKS WERE IDENTIFIED WITH ONE BEING MOSTLY INTACT THAT CONTAINED APPROXIMATELY <1 GALLON OF FUEL.  THERE WAS NO ODOR OF FUEL AMONG THE WRECKAGE OR ASSOCIATED TERRIAN.

ALL MAJOR COMPONENTS OF THE AIRCRAFT WERE LOCATED AND IDENTIFIED WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE HORIZONTAL STABILIZER/STABILATOR.  AN INSPECTION OF THE VERTICAL STABILIZER/TAIL ASSEMBLY SHOWS EVIDENCE OF THE HORIZONTAL SECTION FORCIBLY DETACHED.

## 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 ERA14FA192](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA14FA192), Apr 11, 2014: Piper PA-32RT-300T (N39965), Hugheston, WV, destroyed, 2 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot's loss of airplane control while operating in instrument flight rules conditions.

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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