Piper PA-32R-301 N13VH

Summary

On 22 June 2001 at about 12:58 local time, a Piper PA-32R-301 registered N13VH was involved in an accident near Greenwich, Connecticut, 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

22 June 2001 at 12:58

Classification

Accident

Location

Greenwich, Connecticut, United States

Nearest airport

Westchester County (HPN)

Coordinates

41.5976, -72.7550

Aircraft

Piper PA-32R-301

Registration

N13VH

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Business

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Atlantic City → White Plains

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

IMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

IAD01FA070

1 person died.

The pilot's failure to maintain control of the airplane while maneuvering in instrument meteorological conditions, due to spatial disorientation. Factors in the accident were the fog, and the pilot's use of a sedating medication.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The instrument rated pilot obtained weather briefings for his destination, which reported instrument meteorological conditions, including fog, mist, low visibilities and ceilings. The pilot then departed and flew to his destination, where he was cleared for an ILS approach. The airplane flew along the localizer course, and about a 1/2-mile from the approach end of the runway, the airplane initiated a climb and made a left turn toward the east. The airplane continued to turn left and flew north. It then began a series of left and right hand ascending and descending turns to various altitudes. During the last 3 minutes of flight, the airplane made 18 ascents and descents, with vertical speeds varying between positive 4,600 and negative 6,000 fpm, and it's altitude varied between 600 and 1,800 feet msl. Two witnesses heard the airplane fly loudly overhead before it collided with terrain, and reported that the weather was very foggy. At the time of the accident, weather reported at the airport included zero visibility, fog, vertical visibility 100 feet. According to FAA Flight Training Handbook Advisory Circular (AC) 61-21A, "If neither horizon or surface references exist, the airplane's attitude must be determined by artificial means - an attitude indicator or other flight instruments. Sight, supported by other senses such as the inner ear and muscle sense, is used to maintain spatial orientation. However, during periods of low visibility, the supporting senses sometimes conflict with what is seen. When this happens, a pilot is particularly vulnerable to spatial disorientation." Two independent toxicology reports detected chlorpheniramine, a sedating antihistamine, in the pilot's blood and urine.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.