Piper PA-32-300 N2947A

Summary

On 16 July 2000 at about 17:22 local time, a Piper PA-32-300 registered N2947A was involved in an accident near Washington, North Carolina, United States. 2 people were on board and one had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

16 July 2000 at 17:22

Classification

Accident

Location

Washington, North Carolina, United States

Nearest airport

Warren Field (OCW)

Coordinates

35.5494, -77.0506

Aircraft

Piper PA-32-300

Registration

N2947A

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

MIA00LA219

1 person had minor injuries.

The inadvertent stall by the pilot-in-command while returning for a precautionary landing. Contributing to the accident was the loose engine cowling.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot stated all cowling fasteners were secure during his preflight. After takeoff, the right side of the top cowling came 'straight up.' He turned to land on another runway and was 'trying to maintain enough [airspeed] to stay in the air, but not enough to tear off the cowling.' He lowered one notch of flaps and later reported, 'I ran out of lift.' The airplane landed hard off the intended runway then slid onto it; the top cowling separated on impact. He further stated the raised cowling created drag but did not interfere with his visibility; he did not apply full power to reduce the effects of the increase drag. He stated, 'I should have added more power', there was no problem with the engine. The lower half of the right forward side fastener was separated; but was found, and the wing fastener of the right aft side fastener was separated. Additionally, the attach structure of the right cowl pin was separated from the top cowling but was recovered from the accident site. The right cowl pin and pin bushing were worn but the IA indicated the wear was 'normal.' The top cowling is secured by 6 fasteners and 2 pins that attach to the top cowling and extend through a bushing that is affixed to the bottom cowling.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.