# NTSB CHI83LA301: Piper PA-32RT-300T, N39487, Columbus, OH, July 8, 1983

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: July 8, 1983, 11:38 local (15:38 UTC)
- Place: Columbus, OH
- Coordinates: 40.010578, -82.920379 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.0106&lon=-82.9204&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 2 serious
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 12250
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI83LA301
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/12250/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI83LA301

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of engine power, climb - to cruise
  - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause)
- Forced landing, approach
- In flight collision with object, approach - vfr pattern - final approach
  - visual lookout - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - object - wire,transmission (contributing factor)
  - object - utility pole (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, landing

## Analysis

ABOUT 1 1/2 MIN AFTER TAKING OFF, THE ACFT WAS CLIMBING THRU APRX 1400 FT AGL WHEN THE ENG LOST MOST OF ITS POWER, SPUTTERED, AND SHORTLY THEREAFTER QUIT RUNNING ALTOGETHER. THE PLT SWITCHED FUEL TANK & TRIED TO RESTART THE ENG BUT WAS UNABLE. THE PLT WAS UNABLE TO GLIDE TO THE ARPT, SO HE ELECTED TO LAND IN A FIELD. AS THE ACFT WAS APPROACHING THE FIELD, THE PLT DID NOT SEE TRANSMISSION WIRES UNTIL THEY WERE DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF THE ACFT. HE MANEUVERED THE ACFT TO AVOID A COLLISION; HOWEVER, A CABLE BECAME WRAPPED AROUND THE PROP & THE LEFT WING HIT A UTILITY POLE. THE ACFT THEN CRASH LANDED IN A FIELD. AN EXAM OF THE ACFT & ENG WAS MADE, BUT NO FUEL CONTAMINATION OR PREIMPACT FAILURES WERE FOUND. AFTER MINOR IMPACT FAILURES WERE REPAIRED, THE ENG WAS STARTED & OPERATED NORMALLY.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N39487 (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-32RT-300T (PA-32RT-30)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 32-7887095
- Airframe hours: 1489
- Engines: LYCOMING TIO-540-S1AD 300 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Business, Part 91
- Registered owner: Charles L. Labarge Jr.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: CMH, COLUMBUS, OH
- Destination: SUS, ST. LOUIS, MO

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 49; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 2,003 total, 1,203 in this make and model, 1,876 as pilot in command, 39 in the last 90 days, 8 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 200° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 25,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 52 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: CMH, 6 nm away

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19830708029929A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19830708029929A), Jul 8, 1983: Piper PA32300T, Columbus, OH, Destroyed. Engine quit on climbout. Struck wires and power pole on forced landing. Engine ran normal after accident.

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.

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