Piper PA-32-260 N3448W
12 December 1997 · Pittsville, Maryland, United States · Fatal
Summary
On 12 December 1997 at about 03:35 local time, a Piper PA-32-260 registered N3448W was involved in an accident near Pittsville, Maryland, United States. 3 people were on board and 3 died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.
The record
- Date
- at 03:35
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Pittsville, Maryland, United States
- Coordinates
- 38.3903, -75.4107
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-32-260
- Registration
- N3448W
- Category
- Airplane
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Not recorded
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Aircraft damage
- Destroyed
- Weather
- IMC
- Light
- Night/Dark
- NTSB number
- NYC98FA041
People
3 people died.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Probable cause
the 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 relating to the accident were: darkness, and the adverse weather conditions.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
The noninstrument-rated pilot and two passengers departed from an unlighted grass strip in night instrument meteorological conditions (IMC). A witness, who observed the takeoff, stated the ground visibility was 1,200 feet. A witness, who lived near the accident site, stated that he was in bed when he was awakened by the sound of an airplane approaching. He said the engine noise sounded constant, and after the airplane passed over his house, he heard a 'thud.' The main wreckage of the airplane came to rest in a wooded area, about 4.3 miles from the departure airport. Examination of the wreckage did not disclosed any preimpact malfunction. Toxicology tests of the pilot showed he had a blood/alcohol level of 102 mg/dl (0.102%) and a urine/alcohol level of 221 mg/dl (0.221%). Before flight, the pilot had been observed ingesting alcoholic beverages.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Piper PA-32 accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 18 Jun 1997 | Piper PA-32-300T | Del Norte, Colorado, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 23 Oct 1997 | Piper PA-32-300 | Juneau, Alaska, United States | - | Fatal | 2 |
| 28 Sep 1997 | Piper PA-32-300 | Stuart Island, Washington, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 25 Mar 1997 | Piper PA-32-260 | Lincoln Park, New Jersey, United States | Walter C Corocco | Minor injuries | - |
| 9 Apr 1997 | Piper PA-32-300 | Vincentown, New Jersey, United States | Carl J. Mikuletzky | No injuries | - |
| 16 Apr 1997 | Piper PA-32-300 | Belmar, New Jersey, United States | - | No injuries | - |
All 1,695 records for this type
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 19 Feb 1997 | Piper PA-38-112 | Nanjemoy, Maryland, United States | Joseph Durda | Minor injuries | - |
| 20 Feb 1997 | Cessna 150 | Clarksville, Maryland, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 27 May 1997 | Piper PA-28-140 | Baltimore, Maryland, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 1 Jun 1997 | Cessna 150 | Elkton, Maryland, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 1 Jan 1997 | Cessna 150F | Bittinger, Maryland, United States | - | Fatal | 1 |
| 8 Jun 1997 | Waco YMF | Ocean City, Maryland, United States | - | No injuries | - |