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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

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January 18, 1988 · Piper PA-23-250 · N40265

Carbondale, IL

Overview

Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
January 18, 1988
Injury Outcomes
3 injuries (3 fatalities)
Location
Carbondale, IL
Aircraft
Piper PA-23-250
Tail Number
N40265
Injuries
Fatal
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
CHI88FA046

Shortly after reporting the outer marker while executing an ILS runway 18 approach in actual instrument meteorological conditions, the aircraft deviated left of the localizer centerline. At a position approximately 1/2 mile outside the middle marker and about 1/4 mile left of the localizer centerline, the aircraft descended into a wooded area on an easterly heading. The aircraft impacted the trees and then the terrain in a slightly left bank and slightly nose low attitude. Engine examination and teardown revealed no evidence of pre-impact malfunction. A flight check of the ILS runway 18 was performed the next day and indicated the system was functioning normally. Inspection of the aircraft instruments did not disclose any malfunctions. The pilot was in contact with ATC and did not report any problems before the impact occurred. All pilot and aircraft records were destroyed by post-impact fire. Pilot's total instrument flying experience was not determined; obtained instrument rating 1/3/87.

Full Narrative

SHORTLY AFTER REPORTING THE OUTER MARKER WHILE EXECUTING AN ILS RUNWAY 18 APPROACH IN ACTUAL INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS, THE AIRCRAFT DEVIATED LEFT OF THE LOCALIZER CENTERLINE. AT A POSITION APPROXIMATELY 1/2 MILE OUTSIDE THE MIDDLE MARKER AND ABOUT 1/4 MILE LEFT OF THE LOCALIZER CENTERLINE, THE AIRCRAFT DESCENDED INTO A WOODED AREA ON AN EASTERLY HEADING. THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTED THE TREES AND THEN THE TERRAIN IN A SLIGHTLY LEFT BANK AND SLIGHTLY NOSE LOW ATTITUDE. ENGINE EXAMINATION AND TEARDOWN REVEALED NO EVIDENCE OF PRE-IMPACT MALFUNCTION. A FLIGHT CHECK OF THE ILS RUNWAY 18 WAS PERFORMED THE NEXT DAY AND INDICATED THE SYSTEM WAS FUNCTIONING NORMALLY. INSPECTION OF THE AIRCRAFT INSTRUMENTS DID NOT DISCLOSE ANY MALFUNCTIONS. THE PILOT WAS IN CONTACT WITH ATC AND DID NOT REPORT ANY PROBLEMS BEFORE THE IMPACT OCCURRED. ALL PILOT AND AIRCRAFT RECORDS WERE DESTROYED BY POST-IMPACT FIRE. PILOT'S TOTAL INSTRUMENT FLYING EXPERIENCE WAS NOT DETERMINED; OBTAINED INSTRUMENT RATING 1/3/87.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time17:39 CST
Nearest AirportSouthern Illinois (0nm N)
Runway18
Runway Length5801 ft
Runway Width100 ft
Flight Plan FiledIFR
Aircraft FireGrd
Aircraft ExplosionGrd

Aircraft

AircraftPiper PA-23-250
Tail NumberN40265
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageDestroyed
Operating RulePart 91
Engines2
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · IO-540-C4B5 · Reciprocating · 250
Seats6

People & Injuries

Injury Summary3 injuries (3 fatalities)
Fatal3
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total3
Crew 1Age 21 · Second Class

Conditions

ConditionsIMC
LightDark Night
Wind110° @ 13 kt
Ceiling300 ft
Temperature / Dew Point39 C / 39 C
Altimeter30.00 inHg
Observation Time22:47
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data