Piper PA-28-236 N4388P

Summary

On 7 December 2007 at about 02:10 local time, a Piper PA-28-236 registered N4388P was involved in an accident near Orting, Washington, United States. One person was on board and one died. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

7 December 2007 at 02:10

Classification

Accident

Location

Orting, Washington, United States

Coordinates

47.0678, -122.1011

Aircraft

Piper PA-28-236

Registration

N4388P

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Kent → Puyallup

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Night

NTSB number

SEA08FA046

1 person died.

The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from trees while maneuvering. A contributing factor was the dark night.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The instrument rated commercial pilot was on a visual flight rules (VFR) night flight over a sparsely populated area. The accident site was about 8.8 miles from the destination airport. Wreckage and impact signatures were consistent with a right bank, high-speed impact with trees and terrain. The airplane was mostly consumed by a postimpact fire. Examination of the engine and airframe revealed no evidence of any preexisting mechanical anomalies. Weather conditions at the time of the accident included cloud coverage in the area, with ceilings broken at 1,800 feet above ground level, and overcast at 3,900 feet above ground level.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.