Piper PA-32-260 accident near Brunswick, Maine, August 2, 1984
On August 2, 1984 at about 6:20 pm local time, a Piper PA-32-260, registered N3474W, was substantially damaged in an accident near Brunswick, Maine (Brunswick, Nas airport). It was a flight of an unrecorded kind under charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135). 2 people had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 2, 1984 · about 6:20 pm local time
- Place
- Brunswick, Maine · Brunswick, Nas
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-32-260 · all PA-32-260s on the register
- Registration
- N3474W · no longer on the register · serial 32-348
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT ENG FAILED WITHOUT WARNING AT AN ALT OF 2500 FT MSL. DURING THE FORCED LANDING AT NAS BRUNSWICK, THE PLT EXECUTED NORMAL EMERGENCY PROCEDURES BUT WAS NOT SUCCESSFUL IN AIR-STARTING THE ACFT. HE STATED THAT AFTER HAVING THE 'ABANDONED FIELD MADE' HE SAW HIGH VOLTAGE WIRES & STALLED THE ACFT TO AVOID THE WIRES. THE ACFT LANDED ON PAINT BARRELS AT THE OUTER PERIMETER OF THE ARPT PROPERTY. EXTENSIVE EXAMINATION OF THE FUEL STSYEM & OTHER ENG COMPONENTS FAILED TO REVEAL ANY REASON FOR THE ENG FAILURE/MALFUNCTION.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,082 hours in all; 50 in this make and model; 101 in the last 90 days; 910 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,477 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 3,400 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-540-E4B5 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Bangor Int'L Airlines
The flight
- Departed from: PWM Portland ME
- Destination: BGR Bangor ME
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.