Piper PA-32RT-300T N21423

Summary

On 9 April 2007 at about 04:00 local time, a Piper PA-32RT-300T registered N21423 was involved in an accident near Andrews, North Carolina, United States. 3 people were on board and 2 died, one was seriously injured. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

9 April 2007 at 04:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Andrews, North Carolina, United States

Nearest airport

Andrews Nurphy County Airport (KRHP)

Coordinates

35.1947, -83.8703

Aircraft

Piper PA-32RT-300T

Registration

N21423

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Orlando → Andrews

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Night/Dark

NTSB number

ATL07FA069

2 people died.

The pilot's misjudgment of distance and altitude during a night approach for landing, resulting in an in flight collision with wires and the ground.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot cancelled an instrument flight rules flight plan and was continuing with a night visual approach for landing. A pilot rated passenger located in the right front seat informed the pilot, "I like to fly my approach high." The pilot replied to the passenger either, "I have the approach lights or I' am on the VASI." The pilot rated passenger asked the pilot a short time later, "Why are we off to the left of the runway," and the pilot replied, "Because we are going to crash." A witness who lives south of the airport stated he went outside to smoke a cigarette. He observed an airplane descending towards the airport. The airplane was about 100 feet west of his home in a descent and started a right turn towards the runway. The airplane landing light, navigation lights, and strobe lights were illuminated. A decrease in engine power was heard followed by an increase in engine power. The witness stated it appeared the pilot overshot the runway and collided with the power lines to the left of the runway. The witness observed an electrical flash followed by a fire after the airplane collided with the ground. Examination of the runway revealed no physical evidence to indicate the accident airplane touched down on the ground before the runway overrun, on the overrun, on the runway, or in the grass to the left of Runway 08. The Airport Manager for Andrews Murphy Airport reported no deficiencies with the airport lighting system on April 8, 2007, or April 9, 2007, before the airplane accident. Examination of the airframe, flight controls, engine assembly and accessories revealed no evidence of a pre-crash mechanical failure or malfunction.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.