Piper PA32RT accident near Selma, AL
On June 10, 2020, a Piper PA32RT (airplane) was involved in an accident near Selma, AL. 2 people died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- June 10, 2020
- Place
- Selma, AL
- Aircraft
- Piper PA32RT · Airplane
- Injuries
- 2 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 32.327°N, 87.057°W
- NTSB ID
- 20200610X83452
Official records · ERA20LA212
- Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation
Air traffic control records
- Air Traffic Control Communications (Audio File): Audio recording (WAV), on ntsb.gov
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHTOn June 10, 2020, about 1631 central daylight time, a Piper PA-32RT-300T, N543GS, was destroyed when it was involved in an accident near Selma, Alabama. The commercial pilot and pilot-rated passenger were fatally injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 business flight. According to the fixed-based operator, the airplane was fueled with 55 gallons of fuel prior to departure from Walker County Airport – Bevill Field (JFX), Jasper, Alabama. According to Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) air traffic control communications and radar data, the airplane departed JFX at 1543 with the intended destination of Pensacola International Airport (PNS), Pensacola, Florida. After departure, the airplane climbed and leveled off at a cruise altitude of 15,000 ft mean sea level (msl). About 40 minutes into the flight, the pilot reported an engine "fluctuation" to the controller and requested to divert to Craig Field Airport (SEM), Selma, Alabama. The controller cleared the airplane to SEM, and the pilot indicated that the propeller was turning; however, the airplane had experienced a total loss of engine power. Soon after, while in the descent to SEM, the pilot stated that there was a "fire as well." When the airplane was about 3 miles from SEM and about 3,100 ft msl, radar and voice communications were lost. AIRCRAFT INFORMATIONThe airplane was manufactured in 1978. At the time of the accident, it had a tachometer time of 732.7 hours and 1,726.9 hours time since major overhaul on the engine. The most recent annual inspection wa
Probable cause
The mechanic’s failure to clean the oil suction screen during the most recent maintenance, which resulted in oil starvation and subsequent total loss of engine power.
More accidents in AL
- Beech C99, Jul 10, 1991
- Cessna 421A, Jun 22, 1983
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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.
