Piper PA28R N3943T

Summary

On 19 March 2020 at about 02:47 local time, a Piper PA28R registered N3943T was involved in an accident near Pleasant Plain, Ohio, United States. One person was on board and one died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

19 March 2020 at 02:47

Classification

Accident

Location

Pleasant Plain, Ohio, United States

Coordinates

39.2942, -84.1078

Aircraft

Piper PA28R

Registration

N3943T

Category

Airplane

Year built

1967

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Muskogee → Batavia

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

IMC

Light

Night/Dark

NTSB number

CEN20LA127

1 person died.

The pilot’s encounter with convective turbulence and low-level wind shear in dark night instrument meteorological conditions that resulted in spatial disorientation and the loss of airplane control.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The instrument-rated pilot was on the final segment of an instrument flight rules (IFR) flight in dark night instrument meteorological conditions (IMC). After being cleared for an RNAV approach to his intended destination, the pilot made several course deviations inbound to the initial approach fix. The pilot informed air traffic control (ATC) that he was experiencing autopilot problems, "heavy turbulence," and "heavy downdrafts." Radar and automated dependent surveillance-broadcast data showed the airplane enter a rapidly descending left turn. ATC issued a low-altitude alert to the pilot and advised him to climb to 4,000 ft immediately. The pilot did not respond, and there were no further communications from the pilot. Radar contact was lost as the airplane descended through 1,400 ft. The airplane wreckage was found severely fragmented amidst a heavily wooded area. Examinations of the airframe, flight controls, and engine did not reveal any pre-impact mechanical anomalies. The airplane was flying in an area of a stationary frontal system, which resulted in an extensive area of IFR conditions, low ceilings, low visibilities, drizzle, and rain.  The weather in the accident area was conducive to low-level windshear and convective turbulence at the time of the accident. There was no record of the pilot obtaining a preflight weather briefing, and his flight plan did not list an alternate airport. The pilot’s report of heavy turbulence and downdrafts was consistent with the existing weather conditions. It is likely when the pilot encountered the turbulence and wind shear in dark night conditions, he became spatially disoriented and lost control of the airplane.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.