Aircraft Mfg & Development ALARUS CH2T N605AM

Summary

On 28 March 2004 at about 09:15 local time, a Aircraft Mfg & Development ALARUS CH2T registered N605AM, operated by Phil's Flying Enterprises, Inc, was involved in an accident near Bay Minette, Alabama, United States. 2 people were on board and one was seriously injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

28 March 2004 at 09:15

Classification

Accident

Location

Bay Minette, Alabama, United States

Nearest airport

Bay Minette Municipal (1R8)

Coordinates

30.8731, -87.8178

Aircraft

Aircraft Mfg & Development ALARUS CH2T

Registration

N605AM

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Phil's Flying Enterprises, Inc

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Positioning

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Marietta → Bay Minette

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

IMC

Light

Night/Dark

NTSB number

ATL04LA087

1 person was seriously injured.

The pilot's inadequate inflight decision which resulted in continued VFR flight into IMC conditions, and his failure to maintain clearance which resulted in a collision with trees. A factor was the fog.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

Upon arriving at the destination airport the pilot discovered that instrument weather conditions existed. The pilot elected to divert to another airport where weathers conditions were thought to be better. When the visual flight arrived at the uncontrolled airport, the pilot again discovered reduced visibility and foggy conditions. According to the pilot, he attempted two visual approaches to land but executed go-arounds because of reduced weather conditions. However, at about 15 feet above the ground, on the third approach to land, the pilot recalled hearing something striking the airplane, he felt a thump as the airplane collided with trees and the ground. No mechanical problems with the airplane were reported by the pilot. According to the pilot, during the preflight weather briefing visual weather conditions were forecast for the entire flight. The pilot did not report requesting or receiving updated weather data while en route.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.