Piper PA-32-260 accident near Live Oak, Florida, August 4, 1996
On August 4, 1996 at about 1:35 pm local time, a Piper PA-32-260, registered N3399W, was substantially damaged in an accident near Live Oak, Florida (Suwannee County airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
failure of the pilot to use carburetor heat during the approach to land, which resulted in loss of engine power due to carburetor ice. The weather (carburetor icing condition) was a related factor.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 4, 1996 · about 1:35 pm local time
- Place
- Live Oak, Florida · Suwannee County · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-32-260 · all PA-32-260s on the register
- Registration
- N3399W · no longer on the register · serial 32-260
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
While turning onto final approach at about 750-800 feet, the engine lost power. The pilot applied carburetor heat, and attempts to restart the engine were unsuccessful. While making a forced landing in a field just short of the runway, the aircraft collided with a fence, which resulted in separation of both wings and the rupture of all fuel tanks. Postcrash examination of the aircraft and engine showed the carburetor contained uncontaminated fuel. The fuel tanks were clear of debris and the fuel vent system was unobstructed. The engine was started and operated for 5 minutes, with no evidence of failure or malfunction. At the time of the accident, the temperature and dew point were about 78 and 76 degrees F, respectively. According to icing probability charts, conditions were conducive for carburetor ice.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 952 hours in all; 100 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,340 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 6, 1996; 35 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,400 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-540-E4B5 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: CLW Clearwater FL at 12:15 pm
- Destination: 24J
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 25, 4,000 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 75°F (24°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 12:51 pm from GNV, 55 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
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.