# NTSB NYC08LA142: Piper PA32, N3304W, New Albany, MS, March 20, 2008 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: March 20, 2008, 07:50 local (12:50 UTC) - Place: New Albany, MS - Coordinates: 34.54861, -89.024169 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.5486&lon=-89.0242&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report January 29, 2009 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 67695 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC08LA142 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/67695/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC08LA142 ## Probable cause A loss of engine power for undetermined reasons. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Power plant](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057100): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Not specified; cases with it: [Piper PA-32-260, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057100/cases.md?model=7103206), [All aircraft, 198 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057100/cases.md) - [Not determined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000): Not determined › Not determined · Unknown/Not determined (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-32-260, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md?model=7103206), [All aircraft, 2,247 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Takeoff: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-32-260, 12 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=7103206), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Landing: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092); cases with it: [Piper PA-32-260, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=7103206), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) - [Landing: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Piper PA-32-260, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=7103206), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) - [Post-impact: Fire/smoke (post-impact)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/170); cases with it: [Piper PA-32-260, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/170/sequence.md?model=7103206), [All aircraft, 354 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/170/sequence.md) ## Analysis After a normal preflight inspection and engine run-up, the pilot departed from a 3,900-foot-long, asphalt runway. The airplane lifted off normally and had climbed to an altitude of about 75 feet above the runway, when it began to sputter and then lost power. The airplane touched down hard on the remaining runway, before going off the end, and coming to a stop about 50 feet beyond the runway. A post crash fire consumed a majority of the fuselage, and the right wing. Examination of the engine did not identify evidence of any mechanical malfunctions. The airplane had been flown for 1.3 hours since it was refueled to its maximum capacity of 84 gallons, 9 days prior to the accident. Fuel recovered from the airplane’s left wing was absent of contamination. ## Factual narrative On March 20, 2008, about 0750 central daylight time, a Piper PA-32-260, N3304W, was substantially damaged during a forced landing, after it experienced a loss of engine power during the initial climb after takeoff from the Union County Airport (M72), New Albany, Mississippi. The certificated private pilot and a passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan had been filed for the flight destined for the Roscoe Turner Airport (CRX), Corinth, Mississippi. The business flight was conducted under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. The airplane was owned by the pilot and based at M72. According to the pilot, after performing a preflight inspection and a normal engine run-up, he departed from Runway 36, a 3,900-foot-long, asphalt runway. The airplane lifted off normally and had climbed to an altitude of about 75 feet above the runway, when it began to "sputter" and then experienced a total loss of engine power. The airplane touched down hard on the remaining runway, before going off the end. The airplane came to a stop about 50 feet beyond the runway. Both occupants exited the airplane before a post crash fire consumed a majority of the fuselage, and the right wing. Examination of the engine by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector did not identify evidence of any mechanical malfunctions. The pilot reported that the airplane was flown for 1.3 hours since it was refueled to its maximum capacity of 84 gallons, 9 days prior to the accident. Fuel recovered from the airplane’s left wing was absent of contamination. The airplane had been operated for about 40 hours since its most recent annual inspection, which was performed on August 9, 2007. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3304W](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3304W-2010-08-06), registration cancelled 2010-08-06, S/N 32-140, built 1965 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA32 (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: 32-140 - Airframe hours: 3490 - Engines: Lycoming O-540 260 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Business, Part 91 - Operator: Cooper Electrical Controls Inc - Registered owner: Cooper Electrical Controls Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, August 9, 2007, 38 hours before - Departed: M72, New Albany, MS - Destination: CRX, Corinth, MS - Airport: M72, New Albany, runway 36, 3,900 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 47; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review August 17, 2007; seat: left; flight hours: 530 total, 90 in this make and model, 460 as pilot in command, 31 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 250° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 43 °F, dew point 36 °F - Altimeter: 30.23 inHg - Observed at: TUP, 21 nm away ## 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 20080320012119A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20080320012119A), Mar 20, 2008: Piper PA32260, New Albany, MS, Destroyed. (-23) During takeoff on runway 26 at the New Albany airport (M72) in New Albany Mississippi, the engine shutdown after the aircraft climbed approximately 75… 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.