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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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October 26, 1986 · Piper PA-28R-200 · N4347X

Mount Pleasant, MD

Overview

Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
October 26, 1986
Injury Outcomes
2 injuries (2 fatalities)
Location
Mount Pleasant, MD
Aircraft
Piper PA-28R-200
Tail Number
N4347X
Injuries
Fatal
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
BFO87FA004

THE ACFT WAS ON THE SECOND APCH ATTEMPT FOR ILS RWY 23 WHEN THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED- ON THE FIRST ATTEMPT THE PILOT FLEW OUTBOUND INSTEAD OF INBOUND ON THE LOCALIZER COURSE. FOR THE SECOND ATTEMPT THE PILOT WAS CLEARED FOR A FULL APCH FOR ILS RWY 23; WHICH REQUIRED A PROCEDURE TURN. THE PILOT LAST POSITION REPORT WAS INBOUND ON THE LOCALIZER COURSE. SHORTLY AFTERWARDS, THE PILOT WAS CLEARED TO SWITCH OVER TO THE AIRPORT UNICOM FREQ. RADAR DATA ON THE ACFT SHOWS THAT THE ACFT REACHED OVER THE O/M AND BEGAN TO FLY TOWARD THE WEST. THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH THE GROUND ON A SOUTHWEST HEADING ABOUT 1 MI EAST OF THE O/M. THE PILOT HAD INSTRUMENT FLIGHT RECENCY; HOWEVER HC HAD NO NIGHT FLIGHT TIME FOR AT LEAST 2.5 YRS. THERE WAS NO PHYSICAL IMPAIRMENT OR INCAPACITATION OF THE PILOT DISCLOSED. EXAMINATION OF THE ACFT DID NOT DISCLOSE MALFUNCTION. SATISFACTORY OPERATION OF THE ILS WAS CONFIRMED. A PILOT WHO LANDED AT THE ARPT JUST BEFORE THE ACCIDENT REPORTED CLOUDS CEILING AS 650 FT MSL AND VISIBILITY AS 2 MLS.

Full Narrative

THE ACFT WAS ON THE SECOND APCH ATTEMPT FOR ILS RWY 23 WHEN THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED- ON THE FIRST ATTEMPT THE PILOT FLEW OUTBOUND INSTEAD OF INBOUND ON THE LOCALIZER COURSE. FOR THE SECOND ATTEMPT THE PILOT WAS CLEARED FOR A FULL APCH FOR ILS RWY 23; WHICH REQUIRED A PROCEDURE TURN. THE PILOT LAST POSITION REPORT WAS INBOUND ON THE LOCALIZER COURSE. SHORTLY AFTERWARDS, THE PILOT WAS CLEARED TO SWITCH OVER TO THE AIRPORT UNICOM FREQ. RADAR DATA ON THE ACFT SHOWS THAT THE ACFT REACHED OVER THE O/M AND BEGAN TO FLY TOWARD THE WEST. THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH THE GROUND ON A SOUTHWEST HEADING ABOUT 1 MI EAST OF THE O/M. THE PILOT HAD INSTRUMENT FLIGHT RECENCY; HOWEVER HC HAD NO NIGHT FLIGHT TIME FOR AT LEAST 2.5 YRS. THERE WAS NO PHYSICAL IMPAIRMENT OR INCAPACITATION OF THE PILOT DISCLOSED. EXAMINATION OF THE ACFT DID NOT DISCLOSE MALFUNCTION. SATISFACTORY OPERATION OF THE ILS WAS CONFIRMED. A PILOT WHO LANDED AT THE ARPT JUST BEFORE THE ACCIDENT REPORTED CLOUDS CEILING AS 650 FT MSL AND VISIBILITY AS 2 MLS.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time18:35 EST
Nearest AirportFrederick (8nm ENE)
Runway23
Runway Length5200 ft
Runway Width100 ft
Flight Plan FiledIFR
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftPiper PA-28R-200
Tail NumberN4347X
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageDestroyed
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · IO-360-C1C · Reciprocating · 200
Seats4

People & Injuries

Injury Summary2 injuries (2 fatalities)
Fatal2
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total2
Crew 1Age 64 · Third Class

Conditions

ConditionsIMC
LightNr
Wind330° @ 3 kt
Visibility2 sm
CeilingOvercast 650 ft
Temperature / Dew Point57 / 55
Altimeter29.00 inHg
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data