Piper PA-32-260 N3817W
11 March 1994 · Beckley, West Virginia, United States · Serious injuries
Summary
On 11 March 1994 at about 15:38 local time, a Piper PA-32-260 registered N3817W, operated by Thomas A. Boyd, was involved in an accident near Beckley, West Virginia, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 were seriously injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.
The record
- Date
- at 15:38
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Beckley, West Virginia, United States
- Nearest airport
- Raleigh County Memorial (BKW)
- Coordinates
- 37.7794, -81.1798
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-32-260
- Registration
- N3817W
- Category
- Airplane
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Thomas A. Boyd
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Charleston → Myrtle Beach
- Aircraft damage
- Substantial
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- NYC94LA057
People
2 people were seriously injured.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
Probable cause
A LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DUE TO FUEL CONTAMINATION, WHILE OPERATING OVER UNSUITABLE TERRAIN, AFTER THE PILOT FAILED TO REMOVE ALL THE WATER FROM THE TANK PRIOR TO DEPARTURE. A FACTOR WAS THE PILOT'S DECISION TO OPERATE THE AIRPLANE WITH A KNOWN LEAKING FUEL CAP.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
THE FLIGHT DEPARTED AND CLIMBED TO 7000 FEET FOR CRUISE. APPROXIMATELY 15 MINUTES LATER, THE ENGINE STARTED CUTTING IN AND OUT. THE PILOT WAS UNABLE TO KEEP THE ENGINE RUNNING AND MADE A FORCED LANDING, OFF AIRPORT INTO RISING TERRAIN. EXAMINATION OF THE AIRPLANE FOUND RUST ON THE UNDERSIDE OF THE RIGHT MAIN FUEL TANK CAP AND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT FROM A CO-OWNER THAT THE RIGHT MAIN FUEL TANK WOULD SOMETIMES CONTAIN WATER. THE FUEL TANKS HAD BEEN FOAMED AND EMPTIED BY THE FIRE DEPARTMENT PRIOR TO ARRIVAL OF THE FAA. POST ACCIDENT EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE FOUND RUST COLORED WATER IN THE FUEL LINE LEADING TO THE CARBURETOR AND IN THE CARBURETOR BOWL. THE WATER WAS CLEANED OUT AND THE ENGINE RAN SATISFACTORILY.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Piper PA-32 accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 Feb 1994 | Piper PA-32-300 | Tamarac, Florida, United States | Jacobson, Milton C. | No injuries | - |
| 29 Jul 1994 | Piper PA-32-300 | Marshalltown, Iowa, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 3 Aug 1994 | Piper PA-32-300 | Richmond, Missouri, United States | - | Serious injuries | - |
| 28 Jan 1994 | Piper PA-32-301 | Truckee, California, United States | - | Minor injuries | - |
| 16 Aug 1994 | Piper PA-32-260 | Front Royal, Virginia, United States | William H Peoples | Fatal | 5 |
| 17 Mar 1994 | Piper PA-32-300 | Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States | - | Minor injuries | - |
All 1,695 records for this type
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 Sep 1994 | Piper PA-28R-201T | Lockwood, West Virginia, United States | - | Serious injuries | - |
| 29 Jun 1994 | Beechcraft 58TC | St Marys, West Virginia, United States | Phoenix Aviation | Fatal | 3 |
| 4 Apr 1994 | Talago THUNDERGULL JT2 | Clarksburg, West Virginia, United States | Stanley Talago | Serious injuries | - |
| 7 Apr 1994 | Cessna 172N | Clarksburg, West Virginia, United States | Southern Ohio Aviation, Inc. | No injuries | - |
| 21 Dec 1994 | Cessna 150H | Wheeling, West Virginia, United States | - | Minor injuries | - |
| 3 Aug 1994 | Cessna 210N | Martinsburg, West Virginia, United States | - | Fatal | 1 |