Piper PA-28-140 N648FL

Summary

On 5 October 1998 at about 14:20 local time, a Piper PA-28-140 registered N648FL was involved in an accident near Bad Axe, Michigan, 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

5 October 1998 at 14:20

Classification

Accident

Location

Bad Axe, Michigan, United States

Nearest airport

Huron County Memorial (BAX)

Coordinates

43.8000, -82.9898

Aircraft

Piper PA-28-140

Registration

N648FL

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Sebewiang → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CHI99LA001

2 people died.

The pilot's failure to maintain adequate altitude/clearance from the wires.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

According to witnesses, the airplane entered the traffic pattern at about 1000 feet agl without making any radio calls. The airplane was seen at 75 to 100 feet agl on what appeared to be a downwind leg for runway 21, but runway 17 was available. The wind was from 140 degrees at 10 knots gusting to 15. The airplane's right wing impacted a utility pole at 19.5 feet agl and 12 feet below the wires, The first ground scar was 260 feet from the pole and the main wreckage was located 306 feet from the pole. The main wreckage was consumed by fire. The pilot was seated in the right seat and a non-pilot rated passenger was in the left front seat. The pilot was not a flight instructor. The inspection of the airplane revealed no pre-impact anomalies. Witnesses reported the pilot characteristically made all required and advisory radio calls when approaching or operating in the traffic pattern. The pilot had been diagnosed with mild to moderate coronary disease and had complained of tightness in the chest. The toxicology report indicated negative results for drugs.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.