Piper PA 32R-300 N4477F

Summary

On 19 September 2016 at about 23:00 local time, a Piper PA 32R-300 registered N4477F was involved in an accident near Grants, New Mexico, United States. 3 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

19 September 2016 at 23:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Grants, New Mexico, United States

Coordinates

35.1672, -107.9019

Aircraft

Piper PA 32R-300

Registration

N4477F

Category

Airplane

Year built

1976

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Grants → Cedar City

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN16LA375

Nobody was injured.

A loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined based on the available information.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

After a preflight inspection and engine run up that revealed no anomalies, the private pilot and two passengers were departing on a cross-country flight. The pilot stated that the airplane became airborne approximately 5,000 ft down the 7,172-ft-long runway at 80 knots. Approximately 100 feet above ground level, he heard a "gurgle" and the engine experienced a loss of power. The pilot verified that the fuel pump was on and the throttle was in its full-forward position. The pilot then located a forced landing site and during the landing, the airplane impacted a tree. The occupants egressed, and the airplane was subsequently consumed by postcrash fire. The accident airport was located at an elevation about 6,500 ft mean sea level (msl). Given the atmospheric conditions at the time of the accident, the density altitude exceeded 9,000 ft msl, which would have significantly increased the airplane's takeoff distance and reduced its climb capability. The pilot's experience operating in high density altitude environments could not be determined. Review of photos from the accident site revealed that the fuel selector handle appeared to be located between the left fuel tank and off positions; however, the fuel selector was not examined and its position could not be verified, therefore, the reason for the reported loss of engine power could not be determined.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.