Piper PA-31-350 N59902

Summary

On 5 December 1998 at about 01:45 local time, a Piper PA-31-350 registered N59902 was involved in an accident near Waterford, Michigan, 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

5 December 1998 at 01:45

Classification

Accident

Location

Waterford, Michigan, United States

Nearest airport

Pontiac/Oakland Co. Intl (PTK)

Coordinates

42.6608, -83.3797

Aircraft

Piper PA-31-350

Registration

N59902

Category

Airplane

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Positioning

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Lansing → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

IMC

Light

Night/Dark

NTSB number

CHI99FA047

1 person died.

the pilot's descent below the decision height for the instrument approach.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The airplane collided with the tops of trees during an ILS approach near the middle marker. Witnesses heard the airplane strike the trees and a '...whop, whop, whop sound...' it made as it continued its flight. Other witnesses observed the airplane flying a curved, descending, flight path until the aircraft impacted the ground. Visibility was reported as 1/2 mile at the airport. The on-scene examination revealed no airframe or engine anomalies that would prevent flight. A section of the right propeller and other pieces of airframe were found along the approach path after initial impact with trees. The trees along the flight path were about 30 to 60 feet high. The tops of the taller trees were broken or had fresh cut marks on their limbs. The pilot's blood alcohol level was 216 (mg/dL, mg/hg).

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.