New Piper PA-46-500TP N600YE

Summary

On 7 December 2009 at about 17:34 local time, a New Piper PA-46-500TP registered N600YE, operated by Riley W Kent, was involved in an accident near Mendoza, Texas, 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.

Date

7 December 2009 at 17:34

Classification

Accident

Location

Mendoza, Texas, United States

Nearest airport

Austin-Bergstrom Int'l Airport (AUS)

Coordinates

30.0006, -97.6761

Aircraft

New Piper PA-46-500TP

Registration

N600YE

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Riley W Kent

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Rockport → Austin

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

IMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN10FA065

2 people died.

***This report was modified on May 22, 2014. Please see the docket for this accident to view the original report.*** The pilot's spatial disorientation, which resulted in his loss of airplane control. Contributing to the pilot's spatial disorientation was the sequence and timing of the instructions issued by the air traffic controller. The pilot's operation of the airplane after using impairing medication may also have contributed.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

***This report was modified on May 22, 2014. Please see the docket for this accident to view the original report.*** The pilot was established on the localizer portion of the instrument landing system approach outside the final approach fix in visual meteorological conditions above clouds. He was then given vectors away from the localizer course by an air traffic controller. The vectors were close together and included a left 90-degree turn, a descent, and a 180-degree right turn back toward the localizer course. During the right turn and descent, the airplane continued turning with increasing bank and subsequently impacted the ground. According to a pilot weather report and flight path data the pilot entered clouds as he was starting the right turn toward the localizer. The combination of descending turns while entering instrument conditions were conducive to spatial disorientation. Further, the heading changes issued by the air traffic controller were rapid, of large magnitude, and, in combination with a descent clearance, likely contributed to the pilot's disorientation.Diphenhydramine, a drug that may impair mental and/or physical abilities, was found in the pilot's toxicological test results. While the exact effect of the drug at the time of the accident could not be determined, it may have contributed to the development of spatial disorientation.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.