Piper PA-32-260 N3516W

Summary

On 4 November 2001 at about 00:45 local time, a Piper PA-32-260 registered N3516W was involved in an accident near Avalon, California, United States. 3 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.

Date

4 November 2001 at 00:45

Classification

Accident

Location

Avalon, California, United States

Nearest airport

Catalina (AVX)

Coordinates

33.5850, -118.4172

Aircraft

Piper PA-32-260

Registration

N3516W

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Avalon → Carlsbad

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

IMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

LAX02LA022

Nobody was injured.

the total loss of engine power during departure climb for undetermined reasons.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The airplane sank in the Pacific Ocean after the pilot ditched the airplane following a complete loss of engine power. The pilot reported that he conducted a preflight inspection, took off, and was departing the traffic pattern when the engine started to "flutter" and make "loud metal to metal sounds." The pilot attempted to return the airplane to the departure airport, but was unable. The pilot ditched the airplane in the ocean as close to a boat as possible. A small boat then picked up the pilot and his passengers. Due to the fact that the airplane and engine were not recovered, the reason for the loss of engine power could not be determined.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.