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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

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NTSB Report

April 17, 1990 · Piper PA32RT-300 · N2208N

Mansfield, AR

Overview

Report Status
Probable Cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
April 17, 1990
Injury Outcomes
2 injuries (2 fatalities)
Location
Mansfield, AR
Aircraft
Piper PA32RT-300
Tail Number
N2208N
Operator
Joe a Hayes
Injuries
Fatal
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
MKC90FA091

Before takeoff, the non-instrument rated pilot was briefed by the weather service office for a VFR, no-flight-plan flight. In flight, the pilot received a briefing from an AFSS and was told that VFR flight was not recommended. The pilot informed center that he was climbing to 7,000 feet to stay on top. When he was approaching his destination, he informed approach control that he was on top of an overcast and was trying to find a place to get down. After radio and radar contact was lost with this airplane, another approach controller observed a slow moving primary radar target south of the destination airport, but after it was lost, he was unable to determine its last known location, or its identity. The airplane was in near level attitude at tree impact, then near 60 degree down path to terrain. Damage to trees, and propeller indicate engine power being developed at impact. Weather in area not known. Weather study shows forecast of heavy rain, reduced visibilities, moderate turbulence below clouds.

NTSB Probable Cause

THE NON-INSTRUMENT RATED PILOT'S DECISION TO CONTINUE VFR FLIGHT INTO IMC. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WERE THE LOW CEILINGS, RAIN, AND TURBULENCE ENCOUNTERED AT LOW ALTITUDE, AND THE PILOT'S LACK OF INSTRUMENT TRAINING/EXPERIENCE.

Full Narrative

BEFORE TAKEOFF, THE NON-INSTRUMENT RATED PILOT WAS BRIEFED BY THE WEATHER SERVICE OFFICE FOR A VFR, NO-FLIGHT-PLAN FLIGHT. IN FLIGHT, THE PILOT RECEIVED A BRIEFING FROM AN AFSS AND WAS TOLD THAT VFR FLIGHT WAS NOT RECOMMENDED. PILOT INFORMED CENTER THAT HE WAS CLIMBING TO 7,000 FEET TO STAY ON TOP. WHEN HE WAS APPROACHING HIS DESTINATION, HE INFORMED APPROACH CONTROL THAT HE WAS ON TOP OF AN OVERCAST AND WAS TRYING TO FIND A PLACE TO GET DOWN. AFTER RADIO AND RADAR CONTACT WAS LOST WITH THIS AIRPLANE. ANOTHER APPROACH CONTROLLER OBSERVED A SLOW MOVING PRIMARY RADAR TARGET SOUTH OF THE DESTINATION AIRPORT, BUT AFTER IT WAS LOST, HE WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE ITS LAST KNOWN LOCATION, OR ITS IDENTITY. AIRPLANE WAS IN NEAR LEVEL ATTITUDE AT TREE IMPACT, THEN NEAR 60 DEGREE DOWN PATH TO TERRAIN. DAMAGE TO TREES, AND PROPELLER INDICATE ENGINE POWER BEING DEVELOPED AT IMPACT. WX IN AREA NOT KNOWN. WX STUDY SHOWS FORECAST OF HEAVY RAIN, REDUCED VISIBILITIES, MODERATE TURBULENCE BELOW CLOUDS.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time09:09 CDT
Nearest Airport0nm N
Runway0
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftPiper PA32RT-300
Tail NumberN2208N
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageDestroyed
OperatorJoe a Hayes
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · IO-540-K1G5D · Reciprocating · 300
Seats6

People & Injuries

Injury Summary2 injuries (2 fatalities)
Fatal2
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total2
Crew 1Age 58 · Third Class

Conditions

ConditionsIMC
LightDaylight
Wind30° @ 13 kt, gusting 21 kt
Visibility7 sm
CeilingOvercast 3300 ft
Temperature / Dew Point50 / 48
Altimeter30.00 inHg
Observation Time13:50
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data