Piper PA-32-260 N3774W
12 July 1993 · Arlington, Wyoming, United States · Serious injuries
Summary
On 12 July 1993 at about 18:53 local time, a Piper PA-32-260 registered N3774W, operated by Vignaroli, Robert R., was involved in an accident near Arlington, Wyoming, United States. 2 people were on board and one was seriously injured, 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.
The record
- Date
- at 18:53
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Arlington, Wyoming, United States
- Coordinates
- Not recorded
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-32-260
- Registration
- N3774W
- Category
- Airplane
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Vignaroli, Robert R.
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Laramie → Jackson
- Aircraft damage
- Substantial
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- SEA93LA152
People
1 person was seriously injured.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
Probable cause
FUEL CONTAMINATION, DIRECTIVES NOT FOLLOWED BY THE PILOT IN COMMAND, AND HIS PREMATURE FLARE.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
THE PILOT DEPARTED LARAMIE, WYOMING, AFTER TOPPING OFF THE AIRCRAFT FUEL TANKS. WHILE AT CRUISE ALTITUDE, THE ENGINE LOST POWER. THE PILOT MADE A FORCED LANDING AND REPORTED THAT HE 'WAS A LITTLE HIGH CAUSING INITIAL IMPACT AT NEAR STALL SPEED, REMOVING THE GEAR.' SUBSEQUENT EXAMINATION OF THE FUEL SYSTEM REVEALED CONTAMINATED WATER IN THE FUEL SELECTOR BOWL WITH THE DRAIN LEVER RUSTED IN THE 'CLOSED' POSITION. ADDITIONALLY, THE FUEL PUMP FILTER WAS COVERED WITH A RUST COLORED SUBSTANCE. AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVE 77-12-01 REQUIRES THAT THE FUEL SELECTOR VALVE BE CHECKED EVERY 50 HOURS SO AS TO 'PREVENT A FUEL SYSTEM MALFUNCTION AND A POSSIBLE POWER INTERRUPTION.' THE LAST RECORD OF SUCH AN INSPECTION ON THE AIRCRAFT WAS CONDUCTED 64 HOURS PREVIOUSLY (15 MONTHS PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT). LIKEWISE, THE PIPER CHEROKEE SIX SERVICE MANUAL DESCRIBES PROCEDURES FOR REMOVING, DRAINING, AND CLEANING THE FUEL SELECTOR STRAINER BOWL AT LEAST EVERY 90 DAYS.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Piper PA-32 accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 25 Dec 1993 | Piper PA-32-300 | Atlanta, Georgia, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 15 Feb 1993 | Piper PA-32-300 | Truckee, California, United States | Baker, Raymond C. SR. | Fatal | 4 |
| 30 Nov 1993 | Piper PA-32-300 | Fallon, Nevada, United States | Fallon Aeromotive, Inc. | Serious injuries | - |
| 3 Mar 1993 | Piper PA-32-260 | Riverton, Wyoming, United States | Karl T. Lieb | Minor injuries | - |
| 10 Apr 1993 | Piper PA-32-300 | Danville, Arkansas, United States | Henderson, Paul J. | No injuries | - |
| 2 Jun 1993 | Piper PA-32-300 | Skagway, Alaska, United States | Skagway Air Service, Inc. | Minor injuries | - |
All 1,695 records for this type
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20 Jan 1993 | Boeing A75N1 | Medicine Bow, Wyoming, United States | Denton, Larry E. | Minor injuries | - |
| 6 Apr 1993 | Mitsubishi MU-2B-35 | Casper, Wyoming, United States | Casper Air Service | Fatal | 4 |
| 8 Jul 1993 | Piper PA-12 | Laramie, Wyoming, United States | Evans, Samuel | Fatal | 1 |
| 15 Mar 1993 | Barr KITFOX II | Sheridan, Wyoming, United States | Hanson, Larry R. | No injuries | - |
| 2 Sep 1993 | Cessna 180 | Cheyenne, Wyoming, United States | Arnold, Edward F. | Fatal | 3 |
| 6 Apr 1993 | Piper PA-24 | Casper, Wyoming, United States | Kringle, Wendell K. | No injuries | - |