Piper PA-28-235 N712DB

Summary

On 16 January 1997 at about 12:55 local time, a Piper PA-28-235 registered N712DB was involved in an accident near Okeechobee, Florida, 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

16 January 1997 at 12:55

Classification

Accident

Location

Okeechobee, Florida, United States

Coordinates

27.5008, -80.9299

Aircraft

Piper PA-28-235

Registration

N712DB

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Unknown → Sebring

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

IMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

MIA97FA063

1 person died.

the noninstrument-rated pilot's decision to conduct a VFR flight into instrument meteorological flight conditions. The weather was a factor.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The noninstrument-rated pilot departed on a VFR flight in instrument flight conditions. Witnesses observed the airplane flying towards their location below the tree line following a creek. The ceiling was estimated at about 200 feet, patchy ground fog, with limited forward visibility. The airplane was observed to pitch up in about a 45-degree nose high attitude prior to reaching a levee. The airplane made a steep right turn estimated at a 90-degree angle of bank. The right wingtip collided with a tree separating the right wing tip. The airplane cartwheeled about its longitudinal axis to the left colliding with trees and terrain inverted.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.