Piper PA-32-301 accident near Paris, Texas, April 19, 2013
On April 19, 2013 at about 5:00 pm local time, a Piper PA-32-301, registered N82723, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute (cruise) near Paris, Texas. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The improper installation of the connecting rod bolts, which resulted in an engine failure.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 19, 2013 · about 5:00 pm local time
- Place
- Paris, Texas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-32-301 · all PA-32-301s on the register
- Registration
- N82723 · registry record · serial 32-8306002
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
While in cruise flight, the engine lost power and oil immediately covered the windscreen. The pilot initiated a forced landing to a field. During the forced landing, the airplane impacted terrain and sustained substantial damage to the right wing. Disassembly of the engine showed multiple failures of the connecting rod assemblies. Metallurgical examination of the connecting rod assemblies revealed that the connecting rods likely failed due to insufficient clamping force at the split lines at the crankshaft end of the connecting rods. The pieces showed evidence of the nuts backing off from at least 3 of the connecting rod bolts. Fatigue of the connecting rod bolt and connecting rod straps was secondary to the loss of clamping force at the split lines. It is likely that the connecting rod bolts were not installed properly during the last overhaul.
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
What happened, in order
- Loss of engine power (total) during enroute (cruise) defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during emergency descent
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Engine (reciprocating) › Recip engine power section › Incorrect service/maintenance
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Engine (reciprocating) › (general) › Failure
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 9,128 hours in all; 3,847 in this make and model; 28 in the last 90 days; 9 in the last 30 days; 8,747 as pilot in command; 1,685 on instruments
- Last flight review: February 10, 2013
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 4, 2013; 6 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,600 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-540-K1G5 (piston); 4,683 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: PPF Parsons KS at 3:30 pm
- Destination: CXO Conroe TX
- Flight plan: VFR
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 320° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.23 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
3 documents, released by the NTSB on March 14, 2014. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | NTSB Materials Lab Factual Report | PDF, 5 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Excerpts of Engine Logbooks | PDF, 4 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.