Piper PA-28-160 N5212W

Summary

On 4 January 2009 at about 23:05 local time, a Piper PA-28-160 registered N5212W was involved in an accident near Indiana, Pennsylvania, United States. 3 people were on board and one died, 2 were seriously injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

4 January 2009 at 23:05

Classification

Accident

Location

Indiana, Pennsylvania, United States

Nearest airport

Indiana County Airport (IDI)

Coordinates

40.6353, -79.1136

Aircraft

Piper PA-28-160

Registration

N5212W

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Indiana → Indiana

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

IMC

Light

Night/Dark

NTSB number

ERA09LA124

1 person died.

The pilot's decision to attempt VFR flight in IMC conditions, resulting in a collision with trees during a go-around.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot and two passengers took off with the intent to fly around the traffic pattern. The automated weather reporting system for the field reported steadily deteriorating conditions from earlier in the day and up to the time of departure, with instrument meteorological conditions prevailing throughout the flight. The pilot was not instrument rated and the airplane was not equipped for instrument flight. The flight continued after twilight into full darkness. The pilot stated that he encountered fog that obscured his view of the runway. After five unsuccessful approaches, the pilot stated that he could see the lights on runway 28, which was mostly behind the airplane. The pilot elected to make one more go around and attempt to land on the runway; the airplane impacted trees 1,200 feet northwest of the runway. The airplane came to rest inverted. The pilot stated that he had no intentions of flying that day due to the weather. He said that he was only to going to refuel the airplane, but one of the passengers convinced him to take the airplane once in the pattern.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.