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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

NTSB Reports is an independent research and search tool for public aviation accident and incident records. It brings NTSB aviation reports, structured fields, docket files, extracted figures, photos, videos, and update history into one searchable interface.

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NTSB Report

July 4, 1991 · Piper PA-23-250 · N63817

New Market, VA

Overview

Report Status
Probable Cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
July 4, 1991
Injury Outcomes
1 injury (1 serious injury)
Location
New Market, VA
Aircraft
Piper PA-23-250
Tail Number
N63817
Operator
John Root
Injuries
Serious
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
BFO91LA063

The pilot was advised during the preflight weather briefing that VFR flight was not recommended. The pilot indicated, during the briefing, that he was going to find an instructor or somebody with an instrument rating to fly him to the intended destination. About two hours later the pilot departed alone; he reported that he planned to either turn around or go to an alternate airport, if the weather en route deteriorated. According to the pilot, he proceeded en route by following a highway. He lost sight of the ground, due to fog, so he turned around, but as he did so, the nose of the airplane pitched down, and as he recovered, he saw trees in the path of the airplane. The pilot stated, 'I decided it was best to put it in the trees.' The pilot said the reason the nose pitched down was from winds around the nearby mountains, possibly causing wind shear, and which his already slower than normal airspeed, it caused him to lose altitude.

NTSB Probable Cause

THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE INFLIGHT DECISION THAT RESULTED IN VFR FLIGHT INTO IMC.

Full Narrative

THE PILOT WAS ADVISED DURING THE PREFLIGHT WEATHER BRIEFING THAT VFR FLIGHT WAS NOT RECOMMENDED. THE PILOT INDICATED, DURING THE BRIEFING, THAT HE WAS GOING TO FIND AN INSTRUCTOR OR SOMEBODY WITH AN INSTRUMENT RATING TO FLY HIM TO THE INTENDED DESTINATION. ABOUT TWO HOURS LATER THE PILOT DEPARTED ALONE; HE REPORTED THAT HE PLANNED TO EITHER TURN AROUND OR GO TO AN ALTERNATE AIRPORT, IF THE WEATHER EN ROUTE DETERIORATED. ACCORDING TO THE PILOT, HE PROCEEDED EN ROUTE BY FOLLOWING A HIGHWAY. HE LOST SIGHT OF THE GROUND, DUE TO FOG, SO HE TURNED AROUND, BUT AS HE DID SO, THE NOSE OF THE AIRPLANE PITCHED DOWN, AND AS HE RECOVERED, HE SAW TREES IN THE PATH OF THE AIRPLANE. THE PILOT STATED, 'I DECIDED IT WAS BEST TO PUT IT IN THE TREES.' THE PILOT SAID THE REASON THE NOSE PITCHED DOWN WAS FROM WINDS AROUND THE NEARBY MOUNTAINS, POSSIBLY CAUSING WIND SHEAR, AND WHICH HIS ALREADY SLOWER THAN NORMAL AIRSPEED, IT CAUSED HIM TO LOSE ALTITUDE.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time08:00 EDT
Nearest Airport0nm N
Runway0
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftPiper PA-23-250
Tail NumberN63817
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageDestroyed
OperatorJohn Root
Operating RulePart 91
Engines2
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · IO-540-C4B5 · Reciprocating · 250
Seats6

People & Injuries

Injury Summary1 injury (1 serious injury)
Fatal0
Serious1
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total1
Crew 1Age 63 · Third Class

Conditions

ConditionsIMC
LightDaylight
Wind50° @ 4 kt
CeilingOvercast 200 ft
Altimeter29.00 inHg
Observation Time11:45
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data