Piper PA-32R-301T accident near Scottsboro, Alabama, June 19, 2003
On June 19, 2003 at about 6:13 pm local time, a Piper PA-32R-301T, registered N270LM, was substantially damaged in an accident near Scottsboro, Alabama (Scottsboro Municipal Word Fiel airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed, 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's improper fuel management which resulted in a loss of engine power due to fuel starvation and subsequent impact with trees.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 19, 2003 · about 6:13 pm local time
- Place
- Scottsboro, Alabama · Scottsboro Municipal Word Fiel · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed, 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-32R-301T · all PA-32R-301Ts on the register
- Registration
- N270LM · no longer on the register · serial 32-57006
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The passenger said they departed St Simons Island, Georgia at about 10:00 am estimated. Their destination was Nashville, Tennessee to stop for fuel then they were to continue on to Chicago, Illinois. The passenger continued by saying that they had encountered some storm trouble somewhere in Georgia and had taken a detour. The pilot was flying the airplane on autopilot when she noticed the engine lost power. The pilot then took control of the airplane and started speaking with someone on the radio. He stated he had engine problems and needed to know where the closest airport was. The person on the radio stated that they could not see them on radar. Then stated that the closest airport was three to five miles, and the pilot responded that they could not make that three miles. The pilot stated that they were going to try and land the airplane in a field. The passenger said they circled around the field maybe two times then flew straight into a wooded area. Examination of the right wing found it attached to the fuselage and angled up about 35-degrees supported by tree branches. The right wing fuel tanks were breached in the accident and no fuel was evident. The left main and auxiliary fuel tanks were intact with about 13 gallons of fuel remaining. The fuel selector was on the right tank. Nothing was found during the course of the investigation that would have precluded this engine from producing power prior to impact.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,048 hours in all; 1,457 in this make and model; 26 in the last 90 days; 8 in the last 30 days; 1,858 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: April 4, 2003
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,468.1 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 25, 2003; 36.2 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,600 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming TIO-540-AH1A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SSI Saint Simons Is GA at 2:23 pm
- Destination: BNA Nashville TN
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 03, 5,250 ft by 80 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 290° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 8 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 2,700 ft
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 70°F (21°C)
- Altimeter: 29.90 inHg
- Observation at 5:53 pm from HSV, 30 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 1 | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.