Piper PA32-300D accident near Reform, AL
On December 6, 1996, a Piper PA32-300D (airplane) was involved in an accident near Reform, AL. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- December 6, 1996
- Place
- Reform, AL
- Aircraft
- Piper PA32-300D · Airplane
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 33.370°N, 88.010°W
- NTSB ID
- 20001208X07201
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On December 5, 1996, about 1850 central standard time, a Piper PA-32-300D, N8603N, registered to West Florida Air Inc., operating as a Title 14 CFR Part 91, ferry flight, crashed during a forced landing near Reform, Alabama. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The airplane was destroyed. The private pilot received fatal injuries. The airplane had been purchased on the same day as the accident, and had departed from Aberdeen, Mississippi, about 1826, en route to Tampa, Florida. The pilot made initial contact with Columbus Air Force Base, Approach Control (CMB App), Columbus, Mississippi, at 1827:22. He had departed Monroe County Airport, was climbing through 1,500 feet, en route to Tampa, and would be at a cruise altitude of 9,500 feet. The controller responded and told the pilot he was in radar contact 5 miles east of the departure airport. There were no further radio communications with the flight until 1839:39, when the pilot said to the controller: "...I'm experiencing major trouble, I need the closest airport." At 1840:09, the controller at CMB App asked the pilot what his intentions were. The pilot replied, "closest airport please, I have total engine failure." The pilot was told that the closest airport to his present position was Reform, about 10 miles south, and was given a vector of 190 degrees. At 1841:18, the pilot reported to the CMB controller, "I got partial engine failure, I got a slow descent at 80 miles an hour." The pilot was advised of the airport's runway length and width, in addition to the airport'
Probable cause
a complete loss of engine power due to a total failure of both magnetos, and the failure of the pilot-in-command to insure that the airplane was airworthy. The dark night and unsuitable terrain were factors.
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Browse: Alabama · Piper aircraft
Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
