# NTSB IAD79FA014: Piper PA-32, N3940W, South Boston, VA, November 18, 1978

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: November 18, 1978
- Place: South Boston, VA · SOUTH BOSTON, VA
- Location: 36.7118° N, 78.9134° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of South Boston, VA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.7118&lon=-78.9134&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report January 23, 1979
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 139217
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=IAD79FA014
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/IAD79FA014

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-3631  78/11/18   SOUTH BOSTON,VA     PIPER PA-32         CR-  0  0  1  COMMERCIAL                COMMERCIAL, AGE 38, 6000
        TIME - 1740                    N3940W              PX-  0  0  0  AIR TAXI-CARGO            TOTAL HOURS, 5000 IN
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            TYPE, INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - WILLIAM M TUCK
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          WINSTON-SALEM,NC            RICHMOND,VA
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           ENGINE FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION                            IN FLIGHT: NORMAL CRUISE
           COLLIDED WITH: TREES                                     LANDING: ROLL
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - MISMANAGEMENT OF FUEL
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - INATTENTIVE TO FUEL SUPPLY
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - FUEL STARVATION
        EMERGENCY CIRCUMSTANCES - FORCED LANDING OFF AIRPORT ON LAND
        REMARKS- PLT STATED PREOCCUPIED WITH SELECTING SAFE LNDG AREA RATHER THAN RESTARTING ENG.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N3940W](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3940W-1999-04-06), registration cancelled 1999-04-06, S/N 32-930 (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)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Airport: William M Tuck

## 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 19781118044459A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19781118044459A), Nov 18, 1978: Piper PA32260, South Boston, VA, Substantial damage. Plt stated preoccupied with selecting safe lndg area rather than arting eng.

## Other investigations on N3940W (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 MIA98FA007](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA98FA007), Oct 7, 1997: Piper PA-32-260 (N3940W), Robbins, NC, destroyed, 3 fatal. Probable cause: failure of the pilots in both aircraft to see-and-avoid each other's airplane (inadequate visual lookout), and failure of the Beech pilot to operate his airplane at a correct Visual Flight Rules…

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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