Piper PA-28-140 N513FL

Summary

On 10 November 2000 at about 00:40 local time, a Piper PA-28-140 registered N513FL was involved in an accident near Stuart, Virginia, 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

10 November 2000 at 00:40

Classification

Accident

Location

Stuart, Virginia, United States

Coordinates

36.6396, -80.2693

Aircraft

Piper PA-28-140

Registration

N513FL

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

College Park → Greenville

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

IMC

Light

Night/Dark

NTSB number

IAD01FA013

1 person died.

Pilot's continued flight into known adverse weather conditions during cruise flight. Factors in the accident were the low ceiling, dark night, and the pilot's failure to obtain in-flight weather advisories.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

About 2 hours before departure, the instrument rated pilot obtained weather information from DUATS. The weather information he selected included surface observations, radar summaries, and terminal forecasts for the area along his intended route of flight. The pilot did not request or obtain in-flight weather advisories, which were issued for IFR conditions, mountain obscuration, icing, and turbulence along the intended route of flight. Review of surface observations for airports along the intended route of flight, indicated that instrument meteorological conditions prevailed. The pilot departed on the night cross country flight without filing a flight plan. The airplane was reported missing, and was located 9 days later in mountainous terrain. The wreckage was located at an elevation of about 2,600 feet MSL, and the height of the mountain was about 3,211 feet MSL. Initial tree impact scars encompassed several trees, and appeared to be level along the tops of the trees. The width of the scars was about 30-feet and became progressively lower and narrower in the direction of the wreckage. Examination of the airplane and engine revealed there were no mechanical deficiencies.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.