Piper PA-32RT-300 N31911
18 August 2006 · Hartsville, South Carolina, United States · Fatal
Summary
On 18 August 2006 at about 12:41 local time, a Piper PA-32RT-300 registered N31911 was involved in an accident near Hartsville, South Carolina, 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.
The record
- Date
- at 12:41
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Hartsville, South Carolina, United States
- Nearest airport
- Darlington County (UDG)
- Coordinates
- 34.4464, -79.8869
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-32RT-300
- Registration
- N31911
- Category
- Airplane
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Not recorded
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Cordele → Darlington
- Aircraft damage
- Substantial
- Weather
- IMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- ATL06FA122
People
2 people died.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Probable cause
The pilot's loss of control of the airplane due to spatial disorientation.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
The pilot contacted the Florence Regional Airport (FLO) control tower personnel, requested the current weather conditions, and radar vectors to the GPS runway 5-approach to Darlington Jetport Airport (UDG). Control tower personnel cleared the pilot for the approach, and established the pilot on the 050 radial inbound to the airport. Approximately 6 miles from UDG, control tower personnel cleared the pilot to land, terminated radar service, and instructed the pilot to change over to the UDG UNICOM frequency. Approximately 4 miles from the airport inside the final approach fix (UMAGE) the pilot reported a missed approach, made a left turn, and began a descent to 1,400 feet. The control tower personnel contacted the pilot, and inquired, if he "had the airport insight." The pilot responded "negative." The airplane continued to descend until it was lost off radar. The airplane collided with trees and was located by emergency response personnel off a small private road in a field. Examination of the airframe, instruments, flight controls, engine assembly and accessories all revealed no evidence of a pre-crash mechanical failure or malfunction.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Piper PA-32RT accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Mar 2006 | Piper PA-32RT-300T | Manhattan, Kansas, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 12 Mar 2006 | Piper PA-32RT-300T | Baker, Florida, United States | - | Minor injuries | - |
| 21 Nov 2006 | Piper PA-32RT-300 | Bardstown, Kentucky, United States | Larry Crouch | Serious injuries | - |
| 6 Jun 2006 | Piper PA-32RT-300 | Jackson, Michigan, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 8 Apr 2005 | Piper PA-32RT-300 | St. Charles, Missouri, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 20 Jan 2005 | Piper PA-32RT-300 | Guerrero, Mexico | Michael L. Walsh | Fatal | 2 |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 17 Jul 2006 | Dassault MYSTERE FALCON 900 | Greenville, South Carolina, United States | ERG Aviation II Incorporated | No injuries | - |
| 22 Dec 2006 | Cessna 340A | Charleston, South Carolina, United States | - | Fatal | 4 |
| 24 Apr 2006 | Lancair LANCAIR 360 | Charleston, South Carolina, United States | - | Fatal | 1 |
| 9 Sep 2006 | Thomas VELOCITY | Conway, South Carolina, United States | - | Minor injuries | - |
| 18 Mar 2006 | Piper PA28-180F | Easley, South Carolina, United States | - | Minor injuries | - |
| 19 Mar 2006 | Urban Air UFM-10 | Lancaster, South Carolina, United States | Edward G. Keating | No injuries | - |