# NTSB ERA23LA362: Piper PA32, N6868D, Cincinnati, OH, September 2, 2023 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report - Date: September 1, 2023, 20:38 local (Sep 2, 2023, 00:38 UTC) - Place: Cincinnati, OH - Coordinates: 39.036765, -84.333688 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.0368&lon=-84.3337&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute-cruise: Unknown or undetermined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor, 3 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 193002 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA23LA362 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/193002/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=193002 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA23LA362 ## Probable cause A loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Engine (reciprocating)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058500): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Unknown/Not determined (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-32-300, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058500/cases.md?model=7103212), [All aircraft, 497 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058500/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute-cruise: Unknown or undetermined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-32-300, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000/sequence.md?model=7103212), [All aircraft, 1,703 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot and three passengers departed on a local flight. After reaching a cruise altitude of 4,500 ft mean sea level, the engine started to lose power. The pilot switched fuel tanks and tried to restart the engine several times but was unsuccessful in those attempts. She tried to return to the departure airport but realized she would not be able to reach the runway and maneuvered the airplane for a forced landing into trees. The airplane subsequently collided with the trees and came to rest on its tail section, resulting in substantial damage. Postaccident examination of the engine confirmed continuity of the drivetrain and powertrain, with compression observed in each cylinder. The ignition system appeared intact and there was no evidence observed of any fuel or oil leakage. The examination did not reveal evidence of any anomalies that would have precluded normal operation and the reason for the loss of engine power could not be determined. ## Factual narrative On September 1, 2023, about 2038 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-32-300, N6868D, was substantially damaged when it was involved in accident near Cincinnati, Ohio. The pilot received minor injuries and the three passengers were not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. According to the pilot, she departed Cincinnati Municipal Airport/Lunken Field (LUK), Cincinnati, Ohio, about 2010 for a local flight with friends. During cruise flight, at an altitude of 4,500 ft mean sea level, the engine started “sputter” and there was a smell of “burning and avgas.” The pilot made the decision to return to LUK. She contacted the LUK tower about 10 miles away and informed them of the engine trouble. She called the tower again 5 miles from the airport, stated that she experienced complete engine failure, and was heading for the river for a forced landing. She subsequently contacted the tower again and stated that she was unable to reach the river and would be going down in trees about 5 miles from the airport. She secured the engine and the airplane collided with trees and came to rest on its tail section, resulting in substantial damage to the empennage, tail section, and wings. The pilot stated that after the engine started to sputter, she switched from the right tip tank to the left main tank, then the right main tank, and subsequently the left tip tank during her troubleshooting attempts. Postaccident examination of the engine established compression in each of the cylinders and continuity to the accessory drive section, as the magnetos’ impulse couplings could be heard when the propeller was rotated by hand. The spark plug wires appeared new and in good condition. The fuel flow divider, nor injectors showed any signs of fuel leakage. The propeller blades were straight and not damaged. The spinner dome was impact damaged on one side. There were no signs of oil leakage around the engine. No anomalies were noted with the engine that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6868D](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N6868D), registered now, S/N 32-40608, built 1969 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA32 (300) - Registry model: [Piper PA-32-300](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-32-300) (registry code 7103212) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming TI0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-ti0-540-series) (registry code 41533, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 32-40608 - Year built: 1969 - Airframe hours: 8109 - Engines: Lycoming IO-540 300 hp reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Flamingo Air Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, June 23, 2023 - Departed: LUK, Cincinnati, OH - Equipment: Stall warning system, ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 27; injuries: minor; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review May 14, 2023; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 477 total, 10 in this make and model, 332 as pilot in command, 5 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dusk - Wind: 30° at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 63 °F - Altimeter: 30.16 inHg - Observed at: LUK, 6 nm away - METAR: KLUK 020053Z 03003KT 10SM CLR 23/17 A3016 RMK AO2 SLP210 T02280167 ## 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 20230901015799A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20230901015799A), Sep 1, 2023: Piper PA-32-300, Cincinnati, OH, Substantial damage. Aircraft departed kluk at approximately 2010 EDT for local flight with return to kluk. At approximately 2030 EDT pilot reported smelling a fuel burn smell and… ## Docket (9 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 5, 2024, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=193002. 7.5 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 773 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16602743&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120.1_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Pilot's written statement (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 2.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16603305&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=pilot%20statement_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Memorandum for record a�� interview, director of ops (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 115 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17896085&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Record%20of%20Interview-Dir%20of%20Ops-Rel.pdf - Email from operator regarding pilot statement (item 4, PDF, 1 page, 80 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17896336&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=email%20from%20Tim%20marshall-v2_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Maintenance records (item 5, PDF, 3 pages, 1.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17896436&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Investigative%20Photos-propeller%20logbook_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Excerpt from POH, (from PA32-300 standardization manual) (item 6, PDF, 1 page, 88 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16603221&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=excerpt%20from%20POH-Rel.pdf - Investigative photographs (item 7, PDF, 4 pages, 816 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16603315&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Investigative%20Photo%27s-Rel.pdf - Release of aircraft wreckage, NTSB form 6120.15 (item 8, PDF, 1 page, 72 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17381054&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=WRF_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Wreckage examination summary (item 9, PDF, 6 pages, 795 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17486074&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Wreckage%20Examination%20Summary-Rel.pdf 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.