# Accident 20180903012979A: Piper PA-32-300, Wrangell, AK, September 3, 2018

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: September 3, 2018, 13:53 local time
- Place: Wrangell, AK
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 55.9689° N, 132.4230° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=55.9689&lon=-132.4230&mi=10
- Aircraft: N3957X, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3957X-2021-10-30) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-32-300 (registry code 7103212, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-32-300) (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-32-300
- Reported engine: LYCOMING IO-540-K1G5
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 1,692 total, 487 in this make and model, 34 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ANC18LA069](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC18LA069) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20180903012979A

## Narrative

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

ON SEPTEMBER 3, 2018 AROUND 1353 ALASKA TIME,  A PA32-300 N3957X HAD A TOTAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER, AND SHORTLY AFTER NOTICED LOSS OF OIL PRESSURE, AND THEN OIL ON THE WIND SCREEN. PILOT PERFORMED AN EMERGENCY LANDING AT KELP POINT 14 NAUTICAL MILES NW OF MEYERS CHUCK. DURING THE EMERGENCY LANDING THE AIRCRAFT SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE LEFT WING, AND NOSE GEAR.

## 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 ANC18LA069](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC18LA069), Sep 3, 2018: Piper PA32 (N3957X), Wrangell, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The total loss of engine power due to oil starvation after an interruption of oil circulation for reasons that could not be determined based on the available evidence.

## Other reports on N3957X (1)

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

- [Accident 19830822042769A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19830822042769A), Aug 22, 1983: Piper PA32300 (N3957X), Bermuda Dunes, CA, Substantial damage. Entered high sink rate on final. Began correction too late. Impacted a sand dune short of the runway threshold.

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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