New Albany Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

New Albany, Mississippi 38652
Thursday, March 20, 2008 7:50 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

After a normal preflight inspection and engine run-up, the pilot departed from a 3,900-foot-long, asphalt runway. The airplane lifted off normally and had climbed to an altitude of about 75 feet above the runway, when it began to sputter and then lost power. The airplane touched down hard on the remaining runway, before going off the end, and coming to a stop about 50 feet beyond the runway. A post crash fire consumed a majority of the fuselage, and the right wing. Examination of the engine did not identify evidence of any mechanical malfunctions. The airplane had been flown for 1.3 hours since it was refueled to its maximum capacity of 84 gallons, 9 days prior to the accident. Fuel recovered from the airplaneā€™s left wing was absent of contamination.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

A loss of engine power for undetermined reasons.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 3/20/2008
Event Day of the Week Thursday
Time of Event 750
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City New Albany
Event State MISSISSIPPI
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 38652
Event Date Year 2008
Event Date Month 3
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 343255N
Event Location Longitude 0890127W
Event Location Airport New Albany
Event Location Nearest Airport ID M72
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 413
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 754 Central Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 140
Weather Observation Facility ID TUP
Elevation of weather observation facility 342
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 21
Time Zone of the weather observation CDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 6
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 2
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 250
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 5
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.24
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 2
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 24826
NTSB Notification Source FAA Southern Region ROC
NTSB Notification Date Mar 21 2008 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Dec 22 2008 2:40PM
User who most recently changed record kenj
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Mississippi

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N3304W
NTSB Number NYC08LA142
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? No
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire Ground
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name PIPER
Aircraft Model PA32
Aircraft Series Identifier 260
Aircraft Serial Number 32-140
Certified Max Gross Weight 3400
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
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 9 2007 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 38
Airframe Hours 3490
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type Unknown
Aircraft Owner Name COOPER ELECTRICAL CONTROLS INC
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City NEW ALBANY
Aircraft Owner State MS
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 38652-0338
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name COOPER ELECTRICAL CONTROLS INC
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address --
Operator City NEW ALBANY
Operator State MS
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 38652-0338
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
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) Business
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code M72
Departure City New Albany
Departure State MS
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 750
Departure Time Zone CDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code CRX
Destination City Corinth
Destination State MS
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Takeoff - initial climb
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Dec 22 2008 2:41PM
User who most recently changed record kenj
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location 36
Runway Length 3900
Runway Width 75
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --