Piper PA-34-200T N79TH

Summary

On 2 November 1997 at about 21:40 local time, a Piper PA-34-200T registered N79TH was involved in an accident near Lynn, Indiana, 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

2 November 1997 at 21:40

Classification

Accident

Location

Lynn, Indiana, United States

Coordinates

40.0395, -84.9397

Aircraft

Piper PA-34-200T

Registration

N79TH

Category

Airplane

Engines

2

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

West Chicago → Charleston

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

IMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CHI98FA031

2 people died.

the pilot's failure to maintain control of the airplane which resulted in the inflight separation of the wings, vertical stabilizer/rudder, and the stabilator. Factors associated with the accident the pilot continued the flight into known adverse weather and the icing conditions which existed.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot received a weather briefing during which time he was informed of an AIRMET for icing conditions. The airplane departed at 1534. Last ATC contact with the airplane was at 1639 when the pilot acknowledged a frequency change while at an altitude of 11,000'msl. The airplane dropped off radar about one minute later. A center weather advisory was in effect which advised of moderate isolated severe mixed/rime icing in clouds between 4,000' and 13,000'. Inspection of the wreckage indicates the airplane experienced an inflight breakup. No evidence was found to indicate any pre-accident failures/malfunctions of the airplane and/or engines existed.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.