NTSB investigations: Piper PA-32-260

21 cases on aircraft the registry lists as Piper PA-32-260, where the first occurrence was “In flight encounter with weather”. Aircraft are matched to the registry by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model, so older matches can be wrong.

Cases per year

19832026
NTSB investigations: Piper PA-32-260 per year, 1983–2026: 21 cases
19833
19841
19851
19861
19872
19891
19901
19912
19942
19951
19971
19991
20032
20061
20071

Latest cases

Query with SQL
duckdb -csv -c "SELECT c.\"ntsbNumber\", c.\"eventDate\", c.\"eventType\", c.\"eventCity\", c.\"eventStateOrRegion\", a.n_number, a.\"aircraftMake\", a.\"aircraftModel\", c.\"highestInjuryLevel\", c.\"totalFatal\", c.\"completionStatus\", c.report_url
  FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_case_detail.parquet' c LEFT JOIN 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_aircrafts.parquet' a ON a.case_mkey = c.\"mKey\" AND a.position = 1
  WHERE c.\"mKey\" IN (SELECT x.case_mkey FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_aircrafts.parquet' x WHERE x.aircraft_model_code IN ('7103206')
      AND EXISTS (SELECT 1 FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_occurrences.parquet' o WHERE o.case_mkey = x.case_mkey AND o.aircrafts_position = x.position AND o.\"occurrenceNumber\" = 1 AND o.\"occurrenceCode\" = 240))
  ORDER BY c.\"eventDate\" DESC, c.\"ntsbNumber\" DESC"

Prints the whole list as CSV. It reads the release’s Parquet files over HTTPS, so there’s nothing to download first. Install DuckDB to run it.

NTSB ATL07FA102Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportPiper PA-32-260 · Tyringham, MAThe pilot's inadvertent encounter with thunderstorms during cruise flight. Contributing to the accident was the failure of air traffic control to appropriately issue weather information and initiate an in-flight deviation around known and clearly observed…Jul 9, 2007 · N5595J · Substantial damageNTSB ANC07LA001Accident · Serious injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportPiper PA-32-260 · Port Alsworth, AKThe pilot's inadequate compensation for wind conditions, which resulted in a loss of control while maneuvering, and an in-flight collision with tree covered terrain. Factors associated with the accident are the pilot's inadequate evaluation of weather…Oct 9, 2006 · N996PK · Substantial damageNTSB CHI04FA044Accident · 4 fatalField investigationFinal reportPiper PA-32-260 · Brooklyn, IAThe pilot's inadequate planning/decision resulting in VFR flight into IMC, and his failure to maintain terrain clearance resulting in in-flight collision with terrain. Contributing factors to the accident were the pilot's lack of an instrument rating, his…Dec 18, 2003 · N3733W · Substantial damageNTSB ANC04LA014Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportPiper PA-32-260 · Larson Bay, AKThe loss of engine power for an unknown reason while maneuvering, which resulted in the pilot ditching the airplane. Factors contributing to the accident were a low ceiling and a snow squall.Dec 12, 2003 · N3983W · Substantial damageNTSB CHI99LA065Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportPiper PA-32-260 · St. Charles, ILA loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion. Also causal was the pilot's inadequate preflight/planning preparation which led to inadvertent flight into instrument meteorological conditions and him becoming lost/disoriented. Contributing to the accident were…Jan 17, 1999 · N40712 · Substantial damageNTSB NYC98FA041Accident · 3 fatalField investigationFinal reportPiper PA-32-260 · Pittsville, MDthe pilot's impairment of judgment and performance due to alcohol, his resultant improper planning/decision and flight in instrument meteorological conditions (IMC), and his failure to maintain sufficient altitude while flying over wooded terrain. Factors…Dec 12, 1997 · N3448W · DestroyedNTSB MIA95FA145Accident · 6 fatalField investigationFinal reportPiper PA-32-260 · Gainesville, FLThe pilot's loss of aircraft control due to spatial disorientation after continuing the VFR flight into instrument meteorological conditions. Factors relating to the accident were: the existing weather conditions and dark night that contributed to the pilot's…Jun 7, 1995 · N41481 · DestroyedNTSB FTW95LA061Accident · Minor injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportPiper PA-32-260 · Goldthwaite, TXThe pilot's attempted flight into known adverse weather conditions. Factors were the unsuitable terrain, reduced visibility due fog and low ceilings, and the reduced light conditions.Dec 2, 1994 · N2LK · Substantial damageNTSB BFO94FA144Accident · 5 fatalField investigationFinal reportPiper PA-32-260 · Front Royal, VAThe pilot's failure to maintain adequate clearance, his improper in-flight decision and his inadvertent flight into instrument meteorological conditions (IMC) which resulted in in-flight collision with terrain. The high terrain and weather conditions were…Aug 16, 1994 · N3701W · DestroyedNTSB NYC91FA099Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportPiper PA-32-260 · Naples, NYFlight by the pilot into known icing conditions, which resulted in structural (wing) ice and subsequent loss of aircraft control. The weather condition was a related factor.Apr 2, 1991 · N3667W · DestroyedNTSB CHI91LA070Accident · Serious injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportPiper PA-32-260 · Marshall, ILFlight into known adverse weather by the pilot(s) and subsequent icing of the Piper PA-32'S air induction system. Factors related to the accident were: the adverse weather conditions and a perceived sense of urgency to make the flight.Jan 13, 1991 · N3212W · DestroyedNTSB CHI91LA025Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportPiper PA-32-260 · Latham, KSFailure of the pilot to maintain a proper altitude.Nov 8, 1990 · N5536J · Substantial damageNTSB NYC90FA036Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportPiper PA-32-260 · Coventry, CTThe non-instrument rated pilot initiating VFR flight into IMC on a dark night which resulted in spatial disorientation and uncontrolled flight into the ground. Contributing factor(s) was: the adverse weather existing at the time of the accident and the…Nov 28, 1989 · N3309W · DestroyedNTSB ATL88FA060Accident · 3 fatalField investigationFinal reportPiper PA-32-260 · Moultrie, GAThe plt was on a personal VFR flt with his wife and son. During the course of the flt, he entered deteriorating weather conditions. He was advised that there were scattered rain showers ahead. He continued on his track and advised apch control that he had…Dec 12, 1987 · N3632W · DestroyedNTSB FTW88FA023Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportPiper PA-32-260 · Fulton, TXAcft departed in conditions of low ceiling and visibility with a student plt and pax on board. Witnesses at the arpt estimated the ceiling as 150 to 300 ft ovc with 1/8 to 1/4 mile vis in fog. After lift off the acft entered the fog in a rt climbing turn and…Nov 4, 1987 · N3666W · DestroyedNTSB CHI86LA073Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportPiper PA-32-260 · Mechanicsburg, OHThe plt was on a personal flt when IMC was encountered. The plt elected to climb to a clear area above the IMC when the acft became totally 'socked in.' A 180 deg turn was made, vertigo was experienced and control of the acft was lost. An emergency descent…Jan 18, 1986 · N3414W · Substantial damageNTSB MIA86FA028Accident · 3 fatalField investigationFinal reportPiper PA-32-260 · Sorrento, FLThe flt was on a VFR x-country at 9500 ft with ATC flt following. The non-instrument rated plt advised ATC that he was unable to maintain VFR & climbed to 11,000 ft. he again avised he was unable to maintain VFR & was going to descend. The acft was observed…Nov 9, 1985 · N4862S · DestroyedNTSB ATL84FA151Accident · 5 fatalField investigationFinal reportPiper PA-32-260 · Maynardville, TNThe acft crashed in an uncontrolled state after the airframe failed in flt. Witnesses observed the acft spinning out of the clouds with parts of the airframe separating as it descended. The weather had been described to the plt in 2 wx briefings. At the time…Apr 27, 1984 · N5502J · DestroyedNTSB LAX84FA087Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportPiper PA-32-260 · Holtville, CAThe plt had departed mazatlan, Mexico at 0632 PST & had landed at los mochis & mexicali, Mexico & at calexico, CA, where he cleared U.S. Customs. Before departing calexico, he telephoned his family & told them the wx had been poor all day. The estimated time…Dec 2, 1983 · N3206W · DestroyedNTSB MKC83FA127Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportPiper PA-32-260 · Newton, IAThe non-instrument rated plt took off on a x-country flt at night. When advised of wx along his route, he requested & recieved radar advisories. A short time later, he reported that he was in a storm. For about 10 minutes, the radar controller was…Jun 12, 1983 · N5509V · DestroyedNTSB MIA83FA152Accident · 6 fatalField investigationFinal reportPiper PA-32-260 · Sebastian, FLDuring the flt, the plt contacted vero beach tower & requested the wx. He was advised that vero beach & ft pierce, FL were VFR, but there was wx north of vero beach, a convective SIGMET was in effect & there were thunderstorms in the area. The plt…Jun 5, 1983 · N4724S · Destroyed