# Accident 20241017022139A: Piper PA-32R-301, Van, TX, October 17, 2024

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: October 17, 2024, 09:47 local time
- Place: Van, TX
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 32.5383° N, 95.6704° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.5383&lon=-95.6704&mi=10
- Aircraft: N81481, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N81481) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-32R-301 (registry code 7103218, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-32r-301) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming IO-540 series (registry code 41530, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-540-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-32R-301
- Reported engine: LYCOMING IO-540-K1G5D
- People aboard: 3
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 3
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN25LA018](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN25LA018) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20241017022139A

## Narrative

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

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.

## 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 CEN25LA018](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN25LA018), Oct 17, 2024: Piper PA-32R-301 (N81481), Van, TX, substantial damage. Probable cause: The 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.

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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