Piper PA32-260 accident near Huntington, West Virginia, May 25, 2003
On May 25, 2003 at about 12:25 pm local time, a Piper PA32-260, registered N820CA, was substantially damaged in an accident near Huntington, West Virginia (Robert Newlon Field). 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's failure to position the fuel selector to a tank with adequate fuel for the flight, which resulted in a power loss due to fuel starvation and the subsequent forced landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 25, 2003 · about 12:25 pm local time
- Place
- Huntington, West Virginia · Robert Newlon Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA32-260 · all PA32-260s on the register
- Registration
- N820CA · registry record · serial 32-7300019
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot overflew the runway and as he turned downwind, the engine lost power. He switched tanks and turned the boost pump on, but was unable to restore power. He continued on the downwind, and then turned base and final close to the airport. The airplane touched down mid-field on the 2,300 foot long turf runway, at 75 to 80 mph. The pilot was unable to stop the airplane on the runway, and it continued beyond the runway into a gravel pile and scrap metal beyond the departure end of the runway. Examination of the airplane revealed the right wing tank had ruptured with evidence of a fuel spill. Trace amounts of fuel was found in the fuel line leading to the carburetor, and in the carburetor. The left wing tank was intact and contained a little over a gallon. When electrical power was applied, the fuel gage indicated about 1/8, and with the boost pump on, fuel was pumped fuel flowed to the carburetor. No obstructions were found in the fuel lines. The pilot reported that he flew the airplane earlier in the morning. When he preflighted the airplane, both outboard tanks were empty, the right inboard was full, and the left inboard had about 18 gallons. He reported that he flew for about 35 to 40 minutes on the left tank, and then conducted the accident flight on the left tank. He also reported that he did not visually check the fuel tanks prior to departing on the accident flight.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 400 hours in all; 75 in this make and model; 35 in the last 90 days; 12 in the last 30 days; 350 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,373.6 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 6, 2003; 38.0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,400 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-540 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: HTW Huntington WV at 12:15 pm
- Destination: PMH Portsmouth OH
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 02, 2,300 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 200° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 57°F (14°C), dew point 50°F (10°C)
- Altimeter: 29.95 inHg
- Observation at 12:51 pm from HTS, 13 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.