NTSB FTW91LA032 — 1991-01-23 · ENID, Oklahoma, United States

Current FAA registration · N82162

Make / Model: PIPER PA-32R-301
Year of manufacture: 1982 · 9 years old at event
Engine: LYCOMING IO-540 SER (300 hp)
Seats / Engines: 7 seats · 1 engine
Last airworthiness date: 19830204
ADS-B equipped: Yes — Mode-S AB37D7

Source: FAA Aircraft Registry (releasable master file).

Aircraft involved

N82162 Piper PA-32R-301 None

Probable cause & findings

THE MECHANICAL FAILURE OF THE IGNITION SWITCH. A FACTOR WAS THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO APPLY THE PARKING BRAKE OR USE AIRPLANE WHEEL CHOCKS.

Factual narrative

DURING NORMAL START PROCEDURES, THE AIRPLANE ENGINE FAILED TO START. THE SOLO PILOT EXITED THE AIRPLANE WITHOUT PLACING THE PARKING ON OR CHOCKING THE AIRPLANE. HE ROTATED THE PROPELLER, AND THE ENGINE STARTED. THE AIRPLANE ACCELEARATED FORWARD. THE AIRPLANE MAINTAINED A STRAIGHT GROUND TRACK AND RAN INTO A HANGAR DOOR, PENETRATING IT. AN EXAMINATION OF THE IGNITION SWITCH REVEALED THAT IT HAD A MECHANICAL FAILURE. THE FAILURE PREVENTED THE MAGNETO FROM BEING GROUNDED EVEN THOUGH THE KEY WAS REMOVED OR THE SWITCH PLACED IN THE OFF POSITION. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_1991_FTW91LA032.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.

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