Piper PA-32R-300 N38780
7 February 1994 · Norfolk, Virginia, United States · No injuries
Summary
On 7 February 1994 at about 21:00 local time, a Piper PA-32R-300 registered N38780, operated by Guardione Vincent & Michael, was involved in an accident near Norfolk, Virginia, United States. 6 people were on board and nobody was 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 21:00
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Norfolk, Virginia, United States
- Nearest airport
- Norfolk International (ORF)
- Coordinates
- 36.9099, -76.3299
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-32R-300
- Registration
- N38780
- Category
- Airplane
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Guardione Vincent & Michael
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Kenansville → Hartford
- Aircraft damage
- Substantial
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- BFO94LA038
People
Nobody was injured.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 |
Probable cause
FATIGUE FAILURE OF THE ENGINE MOUNTING BOLT WHICH RESULTED IN LOSS OF ENGINE POWER AND SUBSEQUENT ON GROUND COLLISION WITH THE TERRAIN.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
THE FLIGHT WAS CRUISING AT 7500' WHEN THE ENGINE STARTED TO RUN ROUGH 12.2 NAUTICAL MILES FROM NORFOLK AIRPORT. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE DID NOT CHANGE THE PROPELLER SETTING UNTIL HE WAS OVERHEAD THE AIRPORT. THEREAFTER THERE WAS A LOUD EXPLOSION AND THE OIL ACCESS DOOR BLEW OPEN AND PIECES OF THE ENGINE EXITED THE AIRPLANE. DURING THE FORCED LANDING ON RUNWAY 23 THE AIRPLANE TOUCHED DOWN ON THE GRASSY AREA. EXAMINATION REVEALED THE NO. 2 CYLINDER ASSEMBLY, PISTON AND CONNECTING ROD SEPARATED FROM THE CRANKCASE AT THE CYLINDER HOLD-DOWN STUD AREA. FOR METALLURGICAL EXAMINATION THE HOLD- DOWN STUDS ALONG WITH THE CRANKCASE WERE SENT TO THE NTSB LAB IN WASHINGTON, DC. THE EXAMINATION DISCLOSED FATIGUE CRACKS AND THERE WAS EVIDENCE OF WELDING THROUGH THE CRANKCASE. THE WELDING AREAS WERE SOFTER THAN THE AREAS THAT WERE NOT WELDED.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Piper PA-32R accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 Jan 1994 | Piper PA-32R-301 | Live Oak, Florida, United States | Barker, Sirios C. | Minor injuries | - |
| 16 Apr 1994 | Piper PA-32R-300 | Salem, Ohio, United States | Affordable Leasing, Inc. | Fatal | 3 |
| 19 Aug 1994 | Piper PA-32R-300 | Roanoke, Virginia, United States | Kulwicki, Joseph F. | Fatal | 2 |
| 22 Feb 1994 | Piper PA-32R-300 | Berlin, New Jersey, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 18 Nov 1994 | Piper PA-32R-300 | Tripui, Mexico | Flyers, Inc. | No injuries | - |
| 18 Apr 1994 | Piper PA-32R-300 | Bedford, Pennsylvania, United States | WNT Leasing Co. | No injuries | - |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 Sep 1994 | Cessna 195 B | Richmond, Virginia, United States | Elizabeth A. Copland-Leckey | No injuries | - |
| 22 Apr 1994 | Bell 412/SP | Bluefield, Virginia, United States | - | Fatal | 4 |
| 11 Jun 1994 | Cessna 210B | Culpepper, Virginia, United States | Donald W. Stringer | Fatal | 2 |
| 16 Aug 1994 | Piper PA-32-260 | Front Royal, Virginia, United States | William H Peoples | Fatal | 5 |
| 15 Oct 1994 | Aerospatiale AS-355 | Jonesville, Virginia, United States | Ranger Helicopters | Fatal | 1 |
| 14 Feb 1994 | Hiller UH-12E | Farmville, Virginia, United States | Stevens, James E. | No injuries | - |