Piper PA-28RT-201 N8247G

Summary

On 17 May 1993 at about 02:04 local time, a Piper PA-28RT-201 registered N8247G, operated by Indianapolis Aviation Inc., was involved in an accident near Hancock, Maryland, United States. One person was on board and one died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

17 May 1993 at 02:04

Classification

Accident

Location

Hancock, Maryland, United States

Coordinates

39.7005, -78.1706

Aircraft

Piper PA-28RT-201

Registration

N8247G

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Indianapolis Aviation Inc.

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Frederick → Indianapolis

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

IMC

Light

Night/Dark

NTSB number

BFO93FA093

1 person died.

IMPROPER PLANNING/DECISION BY THE PILOT, HIS INITIATION OF VFR FLT INTO INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS (IMC), AND HIS LOSS OF AIRCRAFT CONTROL DUE TO SPATIAL DISORIENTATION. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE FOG, RAIN, THE PILOT'S SELF INDUCED PRESSURE, AND HIS LACK OF INSTRUMENT EXPERIENCE.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

BEFORE TAKEOFF, THE NON-INSTRUMENT RATED PRIVATE PILOT RECEIVED A WEATHER BRIEFING. HE WAS ADVISED THAT THERE WAS THE POTENTIAL OF IFR WEATHER ALONG HIS ROUTE OF FLIGHT. A WITNESS, WHO HAD JUST RETURNED FROM A FLIGHT, SAID THE PILOT INSISTED THAT HE HAD TO RETURN HOME THAT EVENING. THE WITNESS STATED THAT HEAVY RAIN WAS FALLING. DURING THE FLIGHT, THE PILOT WAS IN CONTACT WITH CLEVELAND AIR ROUTE TRAFFIC CONTROL CENTER, WHEN HE WAS PROVIDED WITH A TRANSPONDER CODE, WHICH WAS NEVER RECEIVED. A SEARCH WAS INITIATED, AND THE AIRCRAFT WAS LOCATED 3 DAYS LATER IN A MOUNTAINOUS AREA. DURING THE IMPACT SEQUENCE, THE ENGINE, WINGS, ELEVATOR AND LANDING GEAR SEPARATED. BOTH PORPELLER BLADES ALSO SEPARATED AND REVEALED EVIDENCE OF ROTATION. A WITNESS CLOSE TO THE SITE REPORTED HEARING A LOW FLYING AIRPLANE IN THE HEAVY RAIN.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.