Piper PA-32RT-300 N6517C

Summary

On 11 December 1994 at about 00:58 local time, a Piper PA-32RT-300 registered N6517C, operated by Air Carriers, Inc., was involved in an accident near Sylvan Springs, Alabama, 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

11 December 1994 at 00:58

Classification

Accident

Location

Sylvan Springs, Alabama, United States

Nearest airport

Birmingham (BHM)

Coordinates

33.5407, -86.9699

Aircraft

Piper PA-32RT-300

Registration

N6517C

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Air Carriers, Inc.

Operating rule

Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter

Purpose of flight

Unknown

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Birmingham → Memphis

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

IMC

Light

Night/Dark

NTSB number

MIA95FA037

1 person died.

POOR IN-FLIGHT PLANNING/DECISION BY THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND FOR FAILURE TO DEVIATE TO AN ALTERNATE AIRPORT AFTER ENCOUNTERING ICING CONDITIONS IN AN AIRPLANE NOT CERTIFICATED FOR FLIGHT IN ICING CONDITIONS. ALSO, FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN ALTITUDE RESULTING IN THE INFLIGHT COLLISION WITH AN ELECTRICAL TOWER.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

BEFORE DEPARTURE THE PILOT WAS ADVISED OF THE FORECAST ALTITUDE OF THE FREEZING LEVEL AND WAS ALSO ADVISED THAT THE TEMPERATURE AT THE DEPARTURE AIRPORT WAS 15 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT ABOVE FREEZING. THE FLIGHT DEPARTED AND EN ROUTE EXPERIENCED WHAT THE PILOT REPORTED AS LIGHT RIME ICING. AT THE PILOT'S REQUEST THE FLIGHT WAS CLEARED TO RETURN AND THE CONTROLLER ADVISED THE PILOT THAT AN ALTERNATE AIRPORT WITH A NON-PRECISION INSTRUMENT APPROACH PROCEDURE WAS NEARBY. THE PILOT ELECTED TO CONTINUE TO THE DEPARTURE AIRPORT ON AN ASSIGNED HEADING AND REQUESTED A LOWER ALTITUDE. THE CONTROLLER CLEARED THE FLIGHT TO CRUISE 2,500 FEET. THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH AN ELECTRICAL TOWER AND 250 KV CABLE ABOUT 90 FEET ABOVE GROUND LEVEL THEN IMPACTED THE GROUND. THE TOWER WAS LOCATED ABOUT 14.3 NM AND 266 DEGREES FROM THE DEPARTURE AIRPORT. EXAMINATION OF THE AIRFRAME REVEALED NO EVIDENCE OF PREIMPACT FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION. EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE REVEALED NO EVIDENCE OF PREIMPACT FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION. THE AIRPLANE WAS NOT CERTIFICATED FOR FLIGHT INTO ICING CONDITIONS.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.