# Accident 20240330004559A: Piper PA-24-250, North Kingston, RI, March 30, 2024

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: March 30, 2024, 14:51 local time
- Place: North Kingston, RI
- Airport: Quonset State
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Landing: Approach
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 41.6040° N, 71.3975° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.6040&lon=-71.3975&mi=10
- Aircraft: N7538P, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7538P-2025-10-16) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-24-250 (registry code 7102404, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-24-250) (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-24-250
- Reported engine: LYCOMING O-540-A1D5
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 1
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 878 total, 19 in this make and model, 28 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA24LA164](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA24LA164) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20240330004559A

## Narrative

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

AIRCRAFT DEPARTED MANSFIELD MUNICIPAL AIRPORT 1B9 ENROUTE TO QUONSET STATE AIRPORT OQU FOR THE THIRD FLIGHT OF THE DAY. PILOT REPORTED A NORMAL PREFLIGHT CHECK, SMOOTH-RUNNING ENGINE DURING TAXI AND A NORMAL TAKEOFF AND CRUISE. ON TWO MILE FINAL INTO QUONSET, PILOT WAS CLEARED TO LAND ON RUNWAY 23. WHILE ESTABLISHED ON FINAL APPROACH THE PILOT NOTICED THREE RED AND ONE WHITE ON THE PAPI LIGHTS AND ATTEMPTED TO INCREASE ENGINE POWER TO GAIN ALTITUDE. NO POWER OR RESPONSE FROM THE ENGINE WAS NOTED, THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO RESTART THE ENGINE BUT WAS UNSUCCESSFUL. THE PILOT REALIZED AT THAT POINT SHE WOULD NOT MAKE THE RUNWAY AND COMMITTED TO DITCHING INTO THE BAY. THE PILOT AND PASSENGER WERE SUBSEQUENTLY RESCUED BY THE RHODE ISLAND DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT AND TAKEN TO A LOCAL HOSPITAL FOR TREATMENT.

## 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 ERA24LA164](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA24LA164), Mar 30, 2024: Piper PA-24-250 (N7538P), North Kingstown, RI, substantial damage. Probable cause: A total loss of engine power during final approach due to the pilot’s failure to recognize that the environmental conditions were susceptible to carburetor icing and apply carburetor heat, which…

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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