Piper PA-32-260 N3324W

Summary

On 4 December 1996 at about 06:30 local time, a Piper PA-32-260 registered N3324W, operated by Cooling Aviation, was involved in an accident near Claverack, New York, United States. One person was 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 December 1996 at 06:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Claverack, New York, United States

Coordinates

42.2197, -73.7206

Aircraft

Piper PA-32-260

Registration

N3324W

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Cooling Aviation

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Johnston → Danbury

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Night/Dark

NTSB number

IAD97LA027

Nobody was injured.

loss of engine power for undetermined reasons.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

According to the pilot, while en route at 9500 feet, after about 20 minutes of level flight, the engine power decreased to below idle rpm. The fuel flow had been 13 gallons per hour (gph) until the power loss occurred, but after the power loss, the flow was 28 gph. The outside air temperature was -20 degrees Celsius. The pilot's attempts to regain power, including the use of carburetor heat, were unsuccessful. He made a forced landing in a field. The pilot, an aircraft mechanic, reported that after landing, he inspected the engine. Not finding any discrepancy, he started the engine 'which ran good.'

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.