Piper PA-28-235 accident near Westerly, Rhode Island, March 1, 2003
On March 1, 2003 at about 7:55 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-235, registered N8547N, was substantially damaged in an accident near Westerly, Rhode Island (Westerly State Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot-in-command's delayed remedial action when the airplane flew below the glidepath, and a total loss of engine power for undetermined reasons.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 1, 2003 · about 7:55 pm local time
- Place
- Westerly, Rhode Island · Westerly State Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-235 · all PA-28-235s on the register
- Registration
- N8547N · no longer on the register · serial 28-11346
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot and pilot rated passenger departed with the fuel tanks half-full. They alternated flying duties while performing touch-and-go landings. After three landings, the pilot positioned the fuel selector from the left main fuel tank to the right main fuel tank. During the sixth approach, the pilot rated passenger was manipulating the controls. While turning onto final approach, the pilot rated passenger reduced the throttle to idle and turned the carburetor heat off. While on an approximate 1/2-mile final leg, the airplane flew below the glidepath and drifted to the right. At the time, the pilot was looking out the left side and to the rear of the airplane. The pilot rated passenger input throttle control to correct the descent rate, but the engine did not respond. The pilot rated passenger alerted the pilot to the problem, and the pilot took control of the airplane. He attempted a restart procedure, which included positioning the fuel selector to the left main fuel tank, verifying that the fuel pump was on, and cycling the ignition and throttle. The engine did not restart and the pilot subsequently performed a forced landing into trees about 500 feet short of the runway. The pilot rated passenger reported that his biannual flight review was expired, he had no flight experience within the preceding 12 months, and no flight experience in the make and model accident airplane. Examination of the wreckage by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector did not reveal any pre-impact mechanical malfunctions. The inspector stated that there was fuel in both main fuel tanks, the fuel selector, and the carburetor bowl. Review of FAA-H-8083-3, Airplane Flying Handbook, revealed: "The ability to estimate the distance an airplane will glide to a landing is the real basis of all power-off accuracy approaches and landings. This will largely determine the amount of maneuvering that may be done from a given altitude. In addition to the ability to estimate distance, it requires the ability to maintain the proper glide while maneuvering the airplane."
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: 300 hours in all; 153 in this make and model; 10 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days; 162 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: April 20, 2001
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
Co-pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,000 hours in all; 15 in this make and model; 0 in the last 90 days; 0 in the last 30 days; 1,000 as pilot in command; 0 on instruments
- Last flight review: August 17, 1999
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,100 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 4, 2002; 15 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,900 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-540 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: WST Westerly RI at 7:50 pm
- Destination: WST
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 25, 4,010 ft by 100 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 200° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 5,000 ft; a few clouds at 3,200 ft
- Temperature: 37°F (3°C), dew point 30°F (-1°C)
- Altimeter: 30.22 inHg
- Observation at 7:53 pm from WST
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.