# Accident 20210613007429A: Piper PA-32-260, Madisonville, TX, June 13, 2021

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: June 13, 2021, 23:55 local time
- Place: Madisonville, TX
- Airport: Madisonville Municipal Airport
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Landing: Approach
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 30.9082° N, 95.9530° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.9082&lon=-95.9530&mi=10
- Aircraft: N3258W, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N3258W) (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: 6
- Fatal injuries: 1
- Other injuries: 5
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN21FA263](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN21FA263) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20210613007429A

## Narrative

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

N3258W FLIGHT WITH 01 PILOT AND 05 PASSENGERS ONBOARD ORIGINATING FROM PORT ISABEL-CAMERON COUNTY AIRPORT (PIL), PORT ISABEL, TX, CRASHED SHORT OF RUNWAY 36, MADISONVILLE MUNICIPAL AIRPORT (51R), MADISONVILLE, TX.  THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTED TREES APPROXIMATELY 700-FEET FROM THE APPROACH END OF RUNWAY 36, OFF OF AIRPORT PROPERTY.  THE TREES WERE APPROXIMATELY 65-FEET TALL AND THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTED AT ABOUT THE 50-FOOT LEVEL.  THE LEFT WING SEPARATED ON IMPACT AND CAME TO REST 50-FEET FROM POINT OF IMPACT.  THE AIRCRAFT TRAVELED ANOTHER 50-FEET, ROLLING LEFT AND COMING TO REST ON ITS LEFT SIDE, APPROXIMATELY 600-FEET FROM THE APPROACH END OF RUNWAY 36 ON AIRPORT PROPERTY.  THE PROPELLER SPINNER WAS PARTIALLY BURIED IN SOFT DIRT INDICATING A SOMEWHAT NOSE-DOWN ATTITUDE ON IMPACT.  TREE BRANCHES DISCOVERED ON THE ROAD UNDERNEATH THE POINT OF IMPACT WERE NOTED TO HAVE SMOOTH, ANGULAR CUTS, CONSISTENT WITH PROPELLER STRIKE UNDER POWER.  THE AIRCRAFT WAS DESTROYED WITH SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE TO THE COCKPIT.  THE PILOT WAS KILLED ON IMPACT.  THE FIVE PASSENGERS SUFFERED CRITICAL INJURIES BUT WERE ABLE TO EGRESS THE AIRCRAFT THROUGH THE RIGHT-SIDE COCKPIT DOOR.  ALTHOUGH NO FUEL WAS DISCOVERED IN THE FUEL TANKS, THERE WAS EVIDENCE OF FUEL SATURATION ON VEGETATION IN THE AREA.  ENGINE EXAMINATION REVEALED:  NORMAL CRANKSHAFT ROTATION; COMPRESSION IN ALL CYLINDERS; MAGNETOS PRODUCED SPARK ON ALL SPARK PLUG LEADS; VALVE TRAIN INDICATED NORMAL MOVEMENT; FUEL IN CARB AND ASSOCIATED FUEL LINES; CARB SCREEN WAS CLEAN.  ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.  EXAMINATION OF LANDING LIGHTS INDICATES THEY WERE LIKELY NOT TURNED ON.  THE PILOT APPROACHED THE AIRPORT AT TOO LOW OF AN ALTITUDE TO CLEAR THE TREES 700-FEET FROM THE APPROACH END OF THE RUNWAY RESULTING IN IMPACT AND CRASH.

## 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 CEN21FA263](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN21FA263), Jun 14, 2021: Piper PA-32-260 (N3258W), Madisonville, TX, substantial damage, 1 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain a proper glidepath during final approach for landing, which resulted in impact with trees and terrain.

## Other reports on N3258W (1)

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

- [Accident 20030810021249A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030810021249A), Aug 10, 2003: Piper PA32260 (N3258W), Litchfield, IL, Substantial damage. (-23) N3258W had landed on runway 36 at Litchfield when a deer ran in front of aircraft impacting the left wing root area. No injuries were sustained during…

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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