Piper PA-32R-300 accident near Roanoke, Virginia, August 19, 1994
On August 19, 1994 at about 7:15 pm local time, a Piper PA-32R-300, registered N4316X, was destroyed in an accident near Roanoke, Virginia. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed and 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE DISCONNECTION OF THE THROTTLE CABLE FROM THE THROTTLE ARM ON THE FUEL INJECTOR SERVO.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 19, 1994 · about 7:15 pm local time
- Place
- Roanoke, Virginia
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed and 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-32R-300 · all PA-32R-300s on the register
- Registration
- N4316X · no longer on the register · serial 32R-7680009
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING TAKEOFF CLIMB, THE AIRPLANE'S ENGINE LOST POWER. DURING A TURN TO THE EMERGENCY LANDING AREA, THE AIRPLANE STRUCK TREES AND FELL TO THE GROUND. POSTACCIDENT EXAMINATION OF THE AIRFRAME AND FUEL SYSTEM DID NOT REVEAL ANY ANOMALIES. EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE REVEALED THE THROTTLE CABLE WAS FULL FORWARD (MAXIMUM FUEL FLOW) BUT DISCONNECTED FROM THE THROTTLE ARM ON THE FUEL INJECTOR SERVO. THE THROTTLE ARM WAS IN THE IDLE POSITION. THE HARDWARE CONNECTING THE THROTTLE CABLE ROD END TO THE THROTTLE ARM WAS NOT LOCATED. EXAMINATION OF THE THROTTLE CABLE ROD END AND THROTTLE ARM REVEALED WEAR AROUND THE CIRCUMFERENCE OF THEIR ATTACHMENT HOLES. THE WEAR AROUND THE CIRCUMFERENCE OF THE ATTACHMENT HOLE ON THE THROTTLE ARM WAS CONSISTENT WITH INSTALLATION OF THE ROD END AT A SKEWED ANGLE. THE AIRPLANE RECEIVED AN ANNUAL INSPECTION ABOUT 99 HOURS PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT.
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
- Flight time: 2,259 hours in all; 867 in this make and model; 30 in the last 90 days; 22 in the last 30 days; 2,165 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,690 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 23, 1993; 99 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,400 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-540-K1A5D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: ROA at 7:00 pm
- Destination: 26B Meadville PA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 150° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 25,000 ft; scat at 4,500 ft
- Temperature: 86°F (30°C), dew point 64°F (18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:27 pm from ROA, 1 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
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.