Warren Field Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Washington, North Carolina 27889
Sunday, July 16, 2000 13:22 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot stated all cowling fasteners were secure during his preflight. After takeoff, the right side of the top cowling came 'straight up.' He turned to land on another runway and was 'trying to maintain enough [airspeed] to stay in the air, but not enough to tear off the cowling.' He lowered one notch of flaps and later reported, 'I ran out of lift.' The airplane landed hard off the intended runway then slid onto it; the top cowling separated on impact. He further stated the raised cowling created drag but did not interfere with his visibility; he did not apply full power to reduce the effects of the increase drag. He stated, 'I should have added more power', there was no problem with the engine. The lower half of the right forward side fastener was separated; but was found, and the wing fastener of the right aft side fastener was separated. Additionally, the attach structure of the right cowl pin was separated from the top cowling but was recovered from the accident site. The right cowl pin and pin bushing were worn but the IA indicated the wear was 'normal.' The top cowling is secured by 6 fasteners and 2 pins that attach to the top cowling and extend through a bushing that is affixed to the bottom cowling.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The inadvertent stall by the pilot-in-command while returning for a precautionary landing. Contributing to the accident was the loose engine cowling.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 7/16/2000
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1322
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City WASHINGTON
Event State NORTH CAROLINA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 27889
Event Date Year 2000
Event Date Month 7
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude --
Event Location Longitude --
Event Location Airport WARREN FIELD
Event Location Nearest Airport ID OCW
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 38
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1359 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID OCW
Elevation of weather observation facility 38
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 31
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 20
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 270
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 3
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Minor
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 1
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 968
NTSB Notification Source Atlanta Comm Center
NTSB Notification Date Jul 19 2000 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1056
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Jul 2 2001 2:33PM
User who most recently changed record MONR
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N2947A
NTSB Number MIA00LA219
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Piper
Aircraft Model PA-32-300
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-32-300
Aircraft Serial Number 32-7940221
Certified Max Gross Weight 3400
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 6
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Aug 1 1999 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 78
Airframe Hours 3124
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Yes
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name WALTER MARTIN BUZBY
Aircraft Owner Street Address 108 RIVERVIEW DR.
Aircraft Owner City WASHINGTON
Aircraft Owner State NC
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 27889
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address
Operator City
Operator State
Operator Country
Operator Zip code
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code OCW
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 1317
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Takeoff
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jun 2 2001 4:09AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 35
Runway Length 5000
Runway Width 150
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --