Piper PA32R accident near Attalla, AL

On November 27, 2023, a Piper PA32R (airplane) was involved in an accident near Attalla, AL. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.

Date

November 27, 2023

Place

Attalla, AL

Aircraft

Piper PA32R · Airplane

Injuries

1 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor

Damage

Destroyed

Position

33.994°N, 86.160°W

NTSB ID

20231128193432

Official records · ERA24FA050

• Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation

Air traffic control records

• ATC - Attachment 1 - ATC Audio Recordings: Recording (ZIP), on ntsb.gov
• NTSB Prepared Partial Transcription Of Communications: Transcript (PDF), on ntsb.gov
• ATC - ATC Services Review: Document (PDF), on ntsb.gov
• ATC - Attachment 2 - Ads-B Data: Document (ZIP), on ntsb.gov
• ATC - Attachment 3 - FAA Aircraft Accident Package: Document (PDF), on ntsb.gov

NTSB summary

HISTORY OF FLIGHTOn November 27, 2023, about 1748 central standard time, a Piper PA-32R-301T airplane, N4187Q, was destroyed when it was involved in an accident near Attalla, Alabama. The private pilot was fatally injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91 personal flight. The pilot was on an instrument flight rules clearance from Scott Municipal Airport (SCX), Oneida, Tennessee, to H L Sonny Callahan Airport (CQF), Fairhope, Alabama. According to FAA ADS-B data and air traffic control audio information, after takeoff the airplane proceeded toward the destination while the pilot established contact with several air traffic control facilities appropriate for the route of flight. ADS-B data indicated that after 1743:03, the airplane began a descent that was not instructed by the controller or broadcast by the pilot. At that time, the flight was about 4 nm north-northeast from the approach end of runway 18 at Northeast Alabama Regional Airport (GAD), Gadsden, Alabama, flying on a south-southwesterly track. At 1743:35, while in contact with the South Radar position of the Birmingham Airport Traffic Control Tower, the pilot advised the controller, “I have lost um my rpm on my engine and so um I am declaring an emergency.” The controller advised the pilot that Albertville Regional Airport – Thomas J Brumlik Field (BFZ), Albertville, Alabama, was to his right at 12 miles and Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport (BHM), Birmingham, Alabama, “would be twelve o’clock and about three zero miles say intentions.” ADS-B data reflec

Probable cause

The undetected wear of both pawl retaining rivets of the left magneto impulse coupling and fatigue failure of one pawl retaining rivet, which led to cascading fractures of the second pawl retaining rivet, left gear retainer assembly, and gear teeth of multiple gears in the accessory section of the engine and resulted in a loss of engine power. Contributing to the accident was the lack of current i

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Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.