# NTSB IAD78FA081: Piper PA-32, N3905W, Severn, VA, July 13, 1978

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: July 13, 1978
- Place: Severn, VA · SEVERN, VA
- Location: 37.2943° N, 76.4155° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Severn, VA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.2943&lon=-76.4155&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 4 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report August 8, 1978
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 140605
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=IAD78FA081
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/IAD78FA081

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-1895  78/7/13    SEVERN,VA           PIPER PA-32         CR-  0  0  1  COMMERCIAL                COMMERCIAL, AGE 59, 2000
        TIME - 1946                    N3905W              PX-  0  0  3  COMMUTER AIR CARRIER      TOTAL HOURS, 110 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0  AIR TAXI-PASSG S-D        INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          CALIFORNIA,MD               NORFOLK,VA
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           ENGINE FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION                            IN FLIGHT: NORMAL CRUISE
           DITCHING                                                 LANDING: LEVEL OFF/TOUCHDOWN
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           POWERPLANT - ENGINE STRUCTURE: MASTER AND CONNECTING RODS
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - LACK OF LUBRICATION-SPECIFIC PART,NOT SYSTEM
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - OVERHEATED
        FACTOR(S)
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - AIRCRAFT CAME TO REST IN WATER
        COMPLETE POWER LOSS - COMPLETE ENGINE FAILURE/FLAMEOUT-1 ENGINE
        EMERGENCY CIRCUMSTANCES - FORCED LANDING OFF AIRPORT ON WATER
        REMARKS- #5 CRANKPIN & BOTH CRANK ARMS WERE DARK BLUE.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N3905W](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3905W-2024-09-16), registration cancelled 2024-09-16, S/N 32-851, built 1966 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-32
- Registry model: [Piper PA-32-260](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-32-260) (registry code 7103206) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-540-series) (registry code 41532, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage

## 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 19780713023419A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19780713023419A), Jul 13, 1978: Piper PA32260, Severn, VA, Substantial damage. #5 Crankpin & both crank arms were dark blue.

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.