Piper PA-28R-200 N7523C

Summary

On 22 March 1991 at about 13:45 local time, a Piper PA-28R-200 registered N7523C, operated by Sunny Skies, Inc., was involved in an accident near Ashland, Alabama, United States. 4 people were on board and 4 died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

22 March 1991 at 13:45

Classification

Accident

Location

Ashland, Alabama, United States

Coordinates

33.2693, -85.8295

Aircraft

Piper PA-28R-200

Registration

N7523C

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Sunny Skies, Inc.

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Columbus → Cullman

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ATL91FA069

4 people died.

CONTINUED VFR FLIGHT BY THE PILOT INTO INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS (IMC), AND HIS FAILURE TO MAINTAIN SUFFICIENCE ALTITUDE/CLEARANCE ABOVE THE WOODED TERRAIN. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS, HIGH TERRAIN, AND THE PILOT'S RECENT USE OF COCAINE.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE PILOT RECEIVED A COMPLETE WEATHER BRIEFING, WHICH INCLUDED CONVECTIVE WEATHER INFORMATION. HE WAS ADVISED BY THE BRIEFER THAT VISUAL FLIGHT WAS NOT RECOMMENDED BECAUSE OF FORECASTED LOW CLOUDS AND REDUCED VISIBILITY. DURING THE FLIGHT, THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH A MOUNTAIN RIDGE AT ABOUT THE 2000 FT LEVEL. REPORTEDLY, THE MOUNTAIN TOP(S) WERE OBSCURED BY FOG. THE PILOT FLIGHT PLANNED FOR A CRUISE ALTITUDE OF 2000 FT; HOWEVER, THE MAXIMUM ELEVATION FIGURE FOR THE QUADRANGLE IN WHICH THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED WAS 3100 FT. EXAMINATION OF THE WRECKAGE AND ACCIDENT SITE FAILED TO INDICATE A MECHANICAL PROBLEM. TOXICOLOGY EXAMS OF THE PILOT'S BLOOD DETECTED 0.068 UG/ML OF BENZOYLECGONINE (METABOLITE OF COCAINE).

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.