# NTSB IAD97LA027: Piper PA-32-260, N3324W, Claverack, NY, December 4, 1996

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: December 4, 1996, 01:30 local (06:30 UTC)
- Place: Claverack, NY
- Coordinates: 42.219707, -73.720573 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.2197&lon=-73.7206&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report March 31, 1998
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 28163
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=IAD97LA027
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/28163/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/IAD97LA027

## Probable cause

loss of engine power for undetermined reasons.

## Analysis

According to the pilot, while en route at 9500 feet, after about 20 minutes of level flight, the engine power decreased to below idle rpm. The fuel flow had been 13 gallons per hour (gph) until the power loss occurred, but after the power loss, the flow was 28 gph. The outside air temperature was -20 degrees Celsius. The pilot's attempts to regain power, including the use of carburetor heat, were unsuccessful. He made a forced landing in a field. The pilot, an aircraft mechanic, reported that after landing, he inspected the engine. Not finding any discrepancy, he started the engine 'which ran good.'

## Factual narrative

On December 4, 1996, at about 0130 eastern standard time, a Piper PA-32-260, N3324W, lost engine power while in cruise flight.  The airplane sustained substantial damage when the pilot attempted an emergency landing in a farm field near Claverack, New York.  The private pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured.  The pilot reported that he was operating in visual meteorological conditions on top of a cloud layer when the loss of engine power occurred.  No flight plan was filed.  The flight departed Fulton County Airport, in Johnstown, New York, about 0030, and was conducted under the provisions of Title 14, CFR Part 91.

According to the pilot, while en route at 9500 feet, after about 20 minutes of level flight, the engine power decreased to below idle rpm.   The fuel flow until the power loss had been 13 gallons per hour (gph), but after the power loss occurred, the flow was 28 gph.  The outside air temperature was -20 degrees Celsius; the pilot's attempts to regain power, including the use of carburetor heat, were unsuccessful and he did a forced landing in a field.  The pilot who is an aircraft mechanic reported that after the landing, he inspected the engine, and not finding any discrepancies, started the engine "which ran good."

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of engine power, cruise - normal
  - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause)
- Forced landing, emergency descent/landing
- On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, emergency landing

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N3324W](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N3324W), registered now, S/N 32-158, built 1965 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Piper PA-32-260
- 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
- Serial number: 32-158
- Airframe hours: 2956
- Engines: Lycoming O-540-E4B5 260 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Cooling Aviation, doing business as Executive Flight School
- Registered owner: Paragon Technologies
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility
- Last inspection: Annual, August 16, 1996, 69 hours before
- Departed: N27, JOHNSTON, NY
- Destination: DXR, DANBURY, CT

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 30; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 856 total, 37 in this make and model, 793 as pilot in command, 116 in the last 90 days, 46 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 3,000 ft overcast
- Temperature: 36 °F

## 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 19961204046929A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19961204046929A), Dec 4, 1996: Piper PA32260, Claverack, NY, Substantial damage. (-16) There may or may not be a violation pending final determination of c ause of engine power loss.

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

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