Piper PA-23-250 N5399Y

Summary

On 4 April 1994 at about 19:13 local time, a Piper PA-23-250 registered N5399Y, operated by James W. Furman, was involved in an accident near Alliance, Nebraska, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

4 April 1994 at 19:13

Classification

Accident

Location

Alliance, Nebraska, United States

Nearest airport

Alliance (AIA)

Coordinates

42.1007, -102.8691

Aircraft

Piper PA-23-250

Registration

N5399Y

Category

Airplane

Engines

2

Operator

James W. Furman

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Business

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Mitchell → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

IMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CHI94FA128

2 people died.

THE PILOT'S SPATIAL DISORIENTATION AND INADVERTANT ENTRY INTO A SPIRAL DIVE. FACTORS WERE THE PILOT'S LACK OF TOTAL INSTRUMENT EXPERIENCE AND THE WEATHER CONDITIONS OF BLOWING SNOW AND TURBULENCE.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE INSTRUMENT RATED PRIVATE PILOT WAS ON THE RETURN LEG OF HIS FIRST ACTUAL IFR FLIGHT, 3 DAYS AFTER COMPLETING HIS INSTRUMENT-AIRPLANE CHECKRIDE. HE HAD ACCUMULATED 2 HOURS OF ACTUAL IFR FLIGHT TIME PRIOR TO THIS FLIGHT. THE EXAMINER, WHO HAD FAILED HIM ON HIS INITIAL CHECKFLIGHT 2 WEEKS PRIOR TO THE SUCCESSFUL CHECK, STATED THAT THE APPLICANT TENDED TO GET OVERLOADED BY COMMUNICATIONS IN ADDITION TO NAVIGATION AND AIRCRAFT CONTROL. WEATHER AT THE DESTINATION WAS BETWEEN 500-1 AND 400-1/2 IN BLOWING SNOW, WITH WINDS GUSTING TO 30 KNOTS. APPROACH MINIMUMS WERE 500-1. COMMUNICATIONS WITH ARTCC WERE DIFFICULT THROUGHOUT THE FLIGHT. THE RADAR TRACK WAS CIRCUITOUS, DID NOT FOLLOW THE PUBLISHED APPROACH OR MISSED APPROACH, AND DEPICTED A DESCENDING SPIRAL FOR THE FINAL 3 MINUTES OF THE FLIGHT. DURING THESE TURNS, THE PILOT STATED HE WAS PROCEEDING TO HIS ALTERNATE. THE FLAP ACTUATOR WAS FOUND IN THE FULLY EXTENDED POSITION. NO DISCREPANCIES WERE NOTED IN THE FLIGHT INSTRUMENTS, PITOT-STATIC SYSTEM, OR ENGINES.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.