Piper PA28R N4504X

Summary

On 12 February 2017 at about 16:06 local time, a Piper PA28R registered N4504X, operated by Flying Arrow LLC, was involved in an accident near Cedar Key, Florida, United States. 3 people were on board and 3 died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

12 February 2017 at 16:06

Classification

Accident

Location

Cedar Key, Florida, United States

Coordinates

29.0492, -82.9681

Aircraft

Piper PA28R

Registration

N4504X

Category

Airplane

Year built

1975

Engines

1

Operator

Flying Arrow LLC

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Brooksville → Cedar Key

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

IMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ERA17FA108

3 people died.

The non-instrument-rated pilot's improper decision to continue visual flight rules flight into instrument meteorological conditions, which resulted in spatial disorientation and a loss of airplane control.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The non-instrument rated private pilot departed in the airplane in visual meteorological conditions, which prevailed along most of the route of the over-water cross-country flight. However, about 20 miles from the destination airport, the airplane encountered an area of instrument meteorological conditions (IMC) that consisted of overcast clouds with bases about 400 ft above the water. According to GPS data, when the airplane reached this area, it began to descend from a cruising altitude of 2,400 ft. About 7 minutes later, at an altitude of about 1,000 ft, the airplane began a left, descending, 180° turn during which the altitude fluctuated until the data ended about 600 ft above the water near the accident site. The airplane continued to descend until it impacted the water. Examination of the wreckage did not reveal any evidence of preimpact mechanical malfunctions that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot had logged only 4.6 hours of simulated instrument experience and had no documented actual instrument experience. No evidence was found indicating that the pilot obtained an official weather briefing before the flight. If he had obtained such a briefing, he would have been told that visual flight rules (VFR) flight was not recommended due to IMC near the destination airport. Given the instrument conditions in the destination area and the pilot's limited instrument flying experience, it is likely that the pilot attempted to continue VFR flight into IMC, experienced spatial disorientation, and lost control of the airplane.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.