Piper PA-23-150 N2189P

Summary

On 14 June 1996 at about 06:40 local time, a Piper PA-23-150 registered N2189P was involved in an accident near Cortland, New York, United States. 3 people were on board and 3 died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

14 June 1996 at 06:40

Classification

Accident

Location

Cortland, New York, United States

Nearest airport

Cortland Co (N03)

Coordinates

42.6000, -76.1793

Aircraft

Piper PA-23-150

Registration

N2189P

Category

Airplane

Engines

2

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Unknown → Augusta

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

IMC

Light

Night/Dark

NTSB number

NYC96FA126

3 people died.

the pilot failure to maintain directional control of the airplane which resulted in the airplane striking trees. Contributing factors were the pilot's spatial disorientation, dark night conditions, fog, and the pilot's self induced pressure to reach the destination.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot departed the airport in weather described by witnesses as about 100 feet visibility in fog. During the takeoff climb, the airplane turned left prior to the end of the runway, and while in a 30-degree left bank it struck trees north of the airport. Both wings separated from the fuselage and there was a postcrash fire. The left propeller was sheared from the engine by torsional twisting. The right propeller blades had 'S' curves damage. Witnesses reported that the engines sounded smooth. Examination of the airplane did not reveal evidence of mechanical malfunction. The published departure procedure requires a climb on runway heading until reaching 2600 feet. The pilot was changing residence and she was required to vacate her current dwelling on the day of the accident. According to the previous owner, the instrument panel was arranged in a non-T layout. The pilot had received her multi-engine instrument rating in an airplane with a T arrangement on the instrument panel 10 months prior to the accident. The pilot's recent instrument flight experience was not determined.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.