# NTSB MIA71AM081: Piper PA-32, N3996W, Vieques Island, PR, March 9, 1971

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: March 9, 1971
- Place: Vieques Island, PR · VIEQUES ISLAND, PR
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 4 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report November 19, 1971
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 160182
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA71AM081
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA71AM081

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-0420   71/3/9    VIEQUES ISLAND,PR   PIPER PA-32         CR-  0  0  1  COMMERCIAL                COMMERCIAL, AGE 23, 3240
        TIME - 1420                    N3996W              PX-  0  0  3  COMMUTER AIR CARRIER      TOTAL HOURS, 66 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0  AIR TAXI-PASSG S-D        INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - VIEQUES
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          VIEQUES ISLAND,PR           SAN JUAN,PR
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           ENGINE FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION                            IN FLIGHT: CLIMB TO CRUISE
           COLLIDED WITH: TREES                                     LANDING: FINAL APPROACH
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - FUEL STARVATION
        COMPLETE POWER LOSS - COMPLETE ENGINE FAILURE/FLAMEOUT-1 ENGINE
        EMERGENCY CIRCUMSTANCES - FORCED LANDING OFF AIRPORT ON LAND
        REMARKS- FUEL STARVATION FOR UNDETERMINED REASON. UNABLE TO RESTART ENG OR RETURN TO DEP ARPT SAFELY.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N3996W](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3996W-2017-11-18), registration cancelled 2017-11-18, S/N 32-964, built 1967 (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
- Airport: Vieques

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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