Piper PA32-301FT accident near Wiggins, Mississippi, January 28, 2008
On January 28, 2008 at about 1:15 pm local time, a Piper PA32-301FT, registered N1053F, was substantially damaged in an accident during prior to flight near Wiggins, Mississippi. 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 failure of the fuel servo gasket and subsequent partial loss of engine power. Contributing to the accident was the none-suitable terrain for the forced landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 28, 2008 · about 1:15 pm local time
- Place
- Wiggins, Mississippi · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA32-301FT · all PA32-301FTs on the register
- Registration
- N1053F · no longer on the register · serial 3232064
- 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 airplane's engine lost partial power. Unable to maintain altitude, the pilot executed a forced landing to a clear cut area. During the landing roll, the airplane nosed over and came to rest in an inverted position. The pilot was able to exit the airplane unassisted. During an examination of the engine it was discovered that a brass hex plug, a component of the fuel injector servo, was hanging loose from its safety wire. The investigation revealed that the gasket, found between the brass hex plug and the aluminum regulator cover, had softened due to engine heat. This allowed the brass hex plug to vibrate and eventually fall out. This resulted in the partial loss of engine power. As a result of this investigation, the fuel servo manufacturer issued Mandatory Service Bulletin PRS-107 and the FAA issued Emergency Airworthiness Directive 2008-06-51.
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
- Powerplant sys/comp malf/fail during prior to flight defining event
- Loss of engine power (partial) during enroute (cruise)
- Loss of engine power (partial) during emergency descent
- Off-field or emergency landing during emergency descent
- Nose over/nose down during landing (flare/touchdown)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Fuel system › (general) › Malfunction
- factor Environmental issues › Physical environment › Terrain › Rough terrain › Contributed to outcome
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 280 hours in all; 152 in this make and model; 76 in the last 90 days; 25 in the last 30 days; 161 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: July 9, 2007
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 230 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 7, 2007
- Maximum gross weight: 3,600 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-540-K1G5 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: T74 Taylor TX at 9:57 am
- Destination: MAI Marianna FL
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 210° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; clear
- Temperature: 52°F (11°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.17 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 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.