20200610006149A

Accident · Destroyed

FAA accident report · Piper PA-32RT-300T · Selma, AL · June 10, 2020

Date: June 10, 2020 · 16:32 local
Place: Selma, AL
Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Destroyed
Aircraft: N543GS
NTSB investigation: NTSBERA20LA212
Reported as: Piper PA-32RT-300T
Reported engine: Lycoming TI0-540 series
People aboard: 2
Fatal injuries: 2
Other injuries: 0
Pilot’s certificate: Commercial pilot
Pilot’s flight hours: 2,600 total

N543GSRegistration cancelled Apr 2, 2022 · Piper PA-32RT-300TS/N 32R-7887124 · Built 1978 Airframe modelPiper PA-32RT-300T Engine modelLycoming TI0-540 seriesTurbo-prop

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry 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.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

06/10/2020 - Aircraft N543GS took off from walker county airport (kjfx) at 1543 local time in route to pensacola, FL (pns), with 2 POB. Shortly after reaching 15,000, N543GS requested lower because of a maintenance problem. N543GS then declared an emergency, stating the engine was on fire and was directed by ATC to craig field, Selma, AL (ksem). N543GS departed 10,000, and was descending for ksem. N543GS disappeared from ATC radar. N543GS was found to have impacted the ground at high rate of speed. Both occupants received fatal injuries.

As the FAA filed it

06/10/2020 - AIRCRAFT N543GS TOOK OFF FROM WALKER COUNTY AIRPORT (KJFX) AT 1543 LOCAL TIME IN ROUTE TO PENSACOLA, FL (PNS), WITH 2 POB. SHORTLY AFTER REACHING 15,000, N543GS REQUESTED LOWER BECAUSE OF A MAINTENANCE PROBLEM. N543GS THEN DECLARED AN EMERGENCY, STATING THE ENGINE WAS ON FIRE AND WAS DIRECTED BY ATC TO CRAIG FIELD, SELMA, AL (KSEM). N543GS DEPARTED 10,000, AND WAS DESCENDING FOR KSEM. N543GS DISAPPEARED FROM ATC RADAR. N543GS WAS FOUND TO HAVE IMPACTED THE GROUND AT HIGH RATE OF SPEED. BOTH OCCUPANTS RECEIVED FATAL INJURIES.

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.

NTSB ERA20LA212Accident · 2 fatalClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportSelma, ALThe mechanic’s failure to clean the oil suction screen during the most recent maintenance, which resulted in oil starvation and subsequent total loss of engine power.Jun 10, 2020 · Destroyed