Pilot Debrief

PIPER PA28 near Lebanon, VA — 2009-10-10

Final reportERA10CA017
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Date
2009-10-10
Location
Lebanon, VA, USA
Aircraft
PIPER PA28
Registration
N43620
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
Serious
Fatalities
0

Probable cause

The pilot’s decision to continue flight under visual flight rules into known deteriorating weather conditions, which resulted in controlled flight into terrain.

NTSB narrative

The pilot stated that he was in cruise flight at 2,500 feet when he encountered low clouds and fog. He lost visual contact with the ground and initiated a climbing left turn. Seconds later, he impacted rising terrain which resulted in substantial damage to the wings, fuselage, and the empennage. Prior to the flight, the pilot obtained a weather briefing from a flight service station that forecasted overcast ceilings at 3,000 feet and 10 miles visibility near the route of flight with conditions improving throughout the day. The pilot stated that the weather at the time of the accident was approximately 5 miles visibility, with an overcast ceiling at 3,000 feet.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • 1 docket document
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents1

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