20241017022139A

Accident · Substantial damage

FAA accident report · Piper PA-32R-301 · Van, TX · October 17, 2024

Date: October 17, 2024 · 09:47 local
Place: Van, TX
Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Substantial damage
Aircraft: N81481
NTSB investigation: NTSBCEN25LA018
Reported as: Piper PA-32R-301
Reported engine: Lycoming IO-540-K1G5D
People aboard: 3
Fatal injuries: 0
Other injuries: 3

N81481Registered now · Piper PA-32R-301S/N 32R-8013049 · Built 1979 Airframe modelPiper PA-32R-301 Engine modelLycoming IO-540 seriesReciprocating

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.

Aircraft was crusing at approximately 7,500 feet asl when the engine began to slowly lose power. Pilot switched fuel tanks and turned on fuel boost pump to regain engine power without success. Pilot attempted to land at a private airport, delva field (00TX), but was unable to make the runway. Aircraft impacted the ground approximately 400 feet short of the runway in a pasture. Aircraft impacted the ground with what appears to be the left wing first. This initial impact appears to have caused the aircrat to turn approximatly 90 degrees to the left and the right side of the aircraft impacted a utility pole aft of the right wing. The impact broke the aircraft in two. The fuselage with occupants came to rest on a paved road and the empenage remained with the utility pole. The left wing broke off the aircraft and came to rest near the empange and utility pole. The three occupants, including the pilot, sustained minor injuries.

As the FAA filed it

AIRCRAFT WAS CRUSING AT APPROXIMATELY 7,500 FEET ASL WHEN THE ENGINE BEGAN TO SLOWLY LOSE POWER. PILOT SWITCHED FUEL TANKS AND TURNED ON FUEL BOOST PUMP TO REGAIN ENGINE POWER WITHOUT SUCCESS. PILOT ATTEMPTED TO LAND AT A PRIVATE AIRPORT, DELVA FIELD (00TX), BUT WAS UNABLE TO MAKE THE RUNWAY. AIRCRAFT IMPACTED THE GROUND APPROXIMATELY 400 FEET SHORT OF THE RUNWAY IN A PASTURE. AIRCRAFT IMPACTED THE GROUND WITH WHAT APPEARS TO BE THE LEFT WING FIRST. THIS INITIAL IMPACT APPEARS TO HAVE CAUSED THE AIRCRAT TO TURN APPROXIMATLY 90 DEGREES TO THE LEFT AND THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTED A UTILITY POLE AFT OF THE RIGHT WING. THE IMPACT BROKE THE AIRCRAFT IN TWO. THE FUSELAGE WITH OCCUPANTS CAME TO REST ON A PAVED ROAD AND THE EMPENAGE REMAINED WITH THE UTILITY POLE. THE LEFT WING BROKE OFF THE AIRCRAFT AND CAME TO REST NEAR THE EMPANGE AND UTILITY POLE. THE THREE OCCUPANTS, INCLUDING THE PILOT, SUSTAINED MINOR 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 CEN25LA018Accident · Minor injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportVan, TXThe mechanic’s improper maintenance of the engine’s air induction scat duct, which collapsed during the flight and resulted in a loss of engine power.Oct 17, 2024 · Substantial damage