Piper PA-32RT-300 N31554

Summary

On 27 November 2002 at about 23:12 local time, a Piper PA-32RT-300 registered N31554 was involved in an accident near Bastian, Virginia, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 died. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

27 November 2002 at 23:12

Classification

Accident

Location

Bastian, Virginia, United States

Nearest airport

Mercer County Airport (BLF)

Coordinates

37.1511, -81.1839

Aircraft

Piper PA-32RT-300

Registration

N31554

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Leesburg → Bluefield

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Night

NTSB number

IAD03FA019

2 people died.

The pilot's failure to maintain an adequate altitude above terrain. Factors in the accident were the dark night conditions and the low cloud ceiling.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

While conducting a night cross-country, about 9 miles south of his destination, the pilot reported a break in the layer of clouds below him, and canceled his instrument flight rules flight plan. Radar data indicated that the airplane made a 360-degree descending left turn from 5,800 feet, to 4,700 feet, before radar contact was lost. The airplane impacted trees and rising terrain, at night, at an elevation of 3,896 feet. Weather at the airport, which has an elevation of 2,857 feet, included a broken cloud layer at 1,900 feet. Examination of the airplane revealed no mechanical deficiencies.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.