# Accident 20170502003979A: Piper PA-32-260, Mukilteo, WA, May 2, 2017

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: May 2, 2017, 15:30 local time
- Place: Mukilteo, WA
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Takeoff: Climb Out
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 47.8894° N, 122.2869° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.8894&lon=-122.2869&mi=10
- Aircraft: N3457W, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N3457W) (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 PA-32-260
- Reported engine: LYCOMING 0-540 SERIES
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 1
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 169 total, 46 in this make and model, 39 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR17LA096](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR17LA096) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20170502003979A

## Narrative

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

AT APPROXIMATELY 1526 LOCAL TIME, N3457W, A PIPER PA-32-260 (CHEROKEE 6) DEPARTED FROM RUNWAY 16R AT SNOHOMISH COUNTY AIRPORT (KPAE) IN EVERETT WASHINGTON.  THE INTENDED DESTINATION WAS KLAMATH FALLS, OREGON (KLMT).  ON BOARD WAS THE PILOT, OCCUPYING THE LEFT FRONT SEAT AND ONE PASSENGER, OCCUPYING THE RIGHT FRONT SEAT; THERE WERE NO OTHER SEATS INSTALLED IN THE AIRCRAFT.  THE PRE-TAKEOFF ENGINE RUN UP WAS NORMAL AND DURING TAKEOFF ROLL AND INITIAL CLIMB OUT ENGINE POWER WAS NORMAL (2,600 REVOLUTIONS PER MINUTE (RPM) AND 25 INCHES OF MERCURY), BUT SOON AFTER TAKEOFF AT APPROXIMATELY 200 TO 400 FEET ABOVE GROUND LEVEL (AGL) THE ENGINE LOST POWER; THE ENGINE RPM DROPPED FROM TAKEOFF POWER TO APPROXIMATELY 400-500 RPM.  THE AIRCRAFT LOST ALTITUDE AND CRASHED ON HARBOR POINTE BLVD. SW, JUST WEST OF THE INTERSECTION WITH WASHINGTON HIGHWAY 525 (MUKILTEO SPEEDWAY).  WHILE DESCENDING, THE AIRCRAFT CLIPPED A POWERLINE AND A TRAFFIC LIGHT WHICH CAUSED BOTH THE LEFT AND RIGHT WING TIP FUEL TANKS TO IGNITE.  THE AIRCRAFT CAME TO REST AT APPROXIMATELY 3917 HARBOUR POINTE BLVD SW, MUKILTEO, WA 98275.  BOTH THE PILOT AND THE PASSENGER EVACUATED THE AIRCRAFT.  THE PILOT REPORTED NO INJURIES AND THE PASSENGER SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES, THERE WERE NO REPORTED INJURIES OF PEOPLE ON THE GROUND, HOWEVER, UP TO FIVE (5) VEHICLES ON THE GROUND WERE DAMAGED.

JUST PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT FLIGHT THE AIRCRAFT ARRIVED AT KPAE (FROM KLMT) AT APPROXIMATELY 1330 LOCAL TIME.  WHILE AT PAE THE PILOT PURCHASED 41.2 GALLONS OF 100LL FUEL FROM CASTLE AND COOK FIXED BASE OPERATOR (FBO); THE TOTAL FUEL LOAD AT TAKEOFF WAS 70 GALLONS.  IN ADDITION TO THE PILOT AND PASSENGER THE AIRCRAFT WAS LOADED WITH MISCELLANEOUS CARGO CONSISTING OF PAPER RECORDS, AIRCRAFT PARTS, A MICROWAVE OVEN AND VARIOUS OTHER ITEMS.  THE COMBINED WEIGHT OF THE PILOT AND PASSENGER WAS APPROXIMATELY 450 LBS.  THE TOTAL WEIGHT OF THE CARGO WAS 568 LBS OF WHICH 61 LBS. WAS LOCATED IN THE FRONT BAGGAGE COMPARTMENT AND 507 LBS. WAS LOCATED IN THE CABIN AFT OF THE TWO FORWARD PILOT AND PASSENGER SEATS.  THE PILOT STATED THAT GROSS WEIGHT AT TIME OF DEPARTURE WAS 3,121 LBS.; THE MAXIMUM GROSS WEIGHT FOR THIS AIRCRAFT IS 3,400 LBS.

## 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 WPR17LA096](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR17LA096), May 2, 2017: Piper PA 32-260 (N3457W), Mukilteo, WA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The improper maintenance of the carburetor, which resulted in a stuck float and a partial loss of engine power during takeoff.

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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