Piper PA-32-260 accident near Beckley, West Virginia, March 11, 1994
On March 11, 1994 at about 3:38 pm local time, a Piper PA-32-260, registered N3817W, was substantially damaged in an accident near Beckley, West Virginia (Raleigh County Memorial airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DUE TO FUEL CONTAMINATION, WHILE OPERATING OVER UNSUITABLE TERRAIN, AFTER THE PILOT FAILED TO REMOVE ALL THE WATER FROM THE TANK PRIOR TO DEPARTURE. A FACTOR WAS THE PILOT'S DECISION TO OPERATE THE AIRPLANE WITH A KNOWN LEAKING FUEL CAP.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 11, 1994 · about 3:38 pm local time
- Place
- Beckley, West Virginia · Raleigh County Memorial · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-32-260 · all PA-32-260s on the register
- Registration
- N3817W · no longer on the register · serial 32-749
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE FLIGHT DEPARTED AND CLIMBED TO 7000 FEET FOR CRUISE. APPROXIMATELY 15 MINUTES LATER, THE ENGINE STARTED CUTTING IN AND OUT. THE PILOT WAS UNABLE TO KEEP THE ENGINE RUNNING AND MADE A FORCED LANDING, OFF AIRPORT INTO RISING TERRAIN. EXAMINATION OF THE AIRPLANE FOUND RUST ON THE UNDERSIDE OF THE RIGHT MAIN FUEL TANK CAP AND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT FROM A CO-OWNER THAT THE RIGHT MAIN FUEL TANK WOULD SOMETIMES CONTAIN WATER. THE FUEL TANKS HAD BEEN FOAMED AND EMPTIED BY THE FIRE DEPARTMENT PRIOR TO ARRIVAL OF THE FAA. POST ACCIDENT EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE FOUND RUST COLORED WATER IN THE FUEL LINE LEADING TO THE CARBURETOR AND IN THE CARBURETOR BOWL. THE WATER WAS CLEANED OUT AND THE ENGINE RAN SATISFACTORILY.
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: 275 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,104 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 15, 1993; 2 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: CRW Charleston WV at 3:15 pm
- Destination: CRE Myrtle Beach SC
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 310° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 3,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 30°F (-1°C), dew point 25°F (-4°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:58 pm from BKW, 3 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.