Diamond DA 40 N447JP

Summary

On 30 August 2013 at about 15:00 local time, a Diamond DA 40 registered N447JP, operated by GLM Advisory LLC, was involved in an accident near Blairsville, Georgia, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

30 August 2013 at 15:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Blairsville, Georgia, United States

Coordinates

34.8122, -83.8067

Aircraft

Diamond DA 40

Registration

N447JP

Category

Airplane

Year built

2004

Engines

1

Operator

GLM Advisory LLC

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Charleston → Andrews

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ERA13CA389

2 people had minor injuries.

The pilot’s decision to continue visual flight into deteriorating weather, which resulted in an encounter with instrument meteorological conditions and subsequent inability to maintain clearance with terrain.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

According to the pilot, he was at 6,500 feet mean sea level (msl) when he encountered a dark cloud. The pilot decided to descend to 4,500 msl through a “hole” in the clouds and when he “popped” out of the cloud he realized he was going to impact trees. He pulled back on the yoke and the airplane subsequently impacted trees and terrain. A postaccident examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed the left wing and empennage had separated from the airplane post-impact. The pilot reported no pre-impact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would preclude normal operations.  

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.