Piper PA-32-260 N3399W

Summary

On 4 August 1996 at about 13:35 local time, a Piper PA-32-260 registered N3399W was involved in an accident near Live Oak, Florida, United States. 4 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 August 1996 at 13:35

Classification

Accident

Location

Live Oak, Florida, United States

Nearest airport

Suwannee County (24J)

Coordinates

30.2708, -83.0390

Aircraft

Piper PA-32-260

Registration

N3399W

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Clearwater → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

MIA96LA202

Nobody was injured.

failure of the pilot to use carburetor heat during the approach to land, which resulted in loss of engine power due to carburetor ice. The weather (carburetor icing condition) was a related factor.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

While turning onto final approach at about 750-800 feet, the engine lost power. The pilot applied carburetor heat, and attempts to restart the engine were unsuccessful. While making a forced landing in a field just short of the runway, the aircraft collided with a fence, which resulted in separation of both wings and the rupture of all fuel tanks. Postcrash examination of the aircraft and engine showed the carburetor contained uncontaminated fuel. The fuel tanks were clear of debris and the fuel vent system was unobstructed. The engine was started and operated for 5 minutes, with no evidence of failure or malfunction. At the time of the accident, the temperature and dew point were about 78 and 76 degrees F, respectively. According to icing probability charts, conditions were conducive for carburetor ice.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.