# NTSB NYC96LA171: Piper PA-32-260, N3868W, Coatsville, PA, August 23, 1996 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 22, 1996, 21:15 local (Aug 23, 1996, 01:15 UTC) - Place: Coatsville, PA - Coordinates: 39.979949, -75.810714 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.9799&lon=-75.8107&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report August 29, 1997 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 39232 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC96LA171 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/39232/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC96LA171 ## Probable cause loss of engine power for undetermined reason(s). Factors relating to the accident were: darkness, and the lack of suitable landing areas. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power, descent - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - In flight collision with object, emergency landing - light condition - bright night (contributing factor) - terrain condition - none suitable (contributing factor) - object - tree(s) (contributing factor) ## Analysis The pilot reported that he was in a descent from 5,000 feet to 3,000 feet when the engine lost power. He tried to switch tanks, but he was mainly concentrating on maintaining sight with a nearby airport. The airplane landed 400 yards short of the runway in trees. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that the fuel tanks had been ruptured and empty, and that nearby foliage was turning brown and dying. Examination of the engine failed to reveal a reason why the engine could not develop power. ## Factual narrative On August 22, 1996, about 2115 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-32-260, N3868W, struck trees during a forced landing in Coatsville, Pennsylvania. The airplane received substantial damage, and the private pilot received minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and the flight which had departed from York, Pennsylvania, about 2045, was operated on an Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) flight plan under 14 CFR Part 91. In the NTSB Accident Report, the pilot stated: "...flight was uneventful until power was lost while descending from 5000 to 3000 on V474 in the vicinity of Costive, PA. At initial loss of power Chester County airport was located visually, and IFR cancellation was requested and granted. Attempt to reach 40N fell short by approx. 400 yards. Reconfiguration of fuel tanks was attempted during descent, but primary attention remained on maintaining visual contact with 40N. Wings separated upon contact with trees, and fuselage came to rest on wooded hillside adjacent (sw) to runway 29 at 40N...." In the NTSB Accident Report, the pilot stated that there were about 74 gallons onboard at departure from York. The insurance adjuster reported that he visited the accident site a few days after the accident, and that the fuel tanks had been ruptured and were empty. The foliage in the immediate vicinity of the accident site was turned brown and dying. Further examination of the engine failed to find a reason why the engine would not develop power. The FAA reported that the airplane settled into trees about 400 yards short of and 200 yards left of the extended centerline of runway 29. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3868W](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3868W-1996-11-12), registration cancelled 1996-11-12, S/N 32812 (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) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 32-812 - Airframe hours: 3621 - Engines: Lycoming O-540-E4B5 260 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Positioning, Part 91 - Registered owner: Tiemann N. Horn - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, August 16, 1996, 1 hours before - Departed: THV, YORK, PA - Destination: N99, WEST CHESTER, PA - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: 40N, Chester County, runway 29, 5,400 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 56; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 1,342 total, 1,022 in this make and model, 1,213 as pilot in command, 12 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/bright - Visibility: 5 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none ## 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 19960823023519A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19960823023519A), Aug 23, 1996: Piper PA32260, Chester County, Substantial damage. Developed engine problem tried to land at airport, crashed in wooded area off runway. 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.