PIPER J3C 65 near Carrol County, VA — 2014-09-10

Probable cause

The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from trees during an emergency landing after encountering deteriorating weather conditions. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s poor preflight weather planning, which resulted in an inadvertent encounter with instrument meteorological conditions.

NTSB narrative

The pilot was conducting a multi-leg, cross-country flight in an airplane that was not equipped to fly in instrument meteorological conditions (IMC). Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the departure airport; however, IMC existed along the route of flight. Although the pilot was instrument-rated, he had not completed an instrument proficiency check in 9 years. The pilot reported that, about 1 hour 30 minutes into the flight, the airplane encountered deteriorating weather conditions and that he then attempted an emergency landing on an interstate highway; the airplane subsequently impacted trees and terrain. The pilot could not recall if he checked the weather conditions before departure. He further reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or anomalies with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The recorded weather at an airport located about 1 mile from the accident site included visibility less than 1/4 statute mile about the time of the accident. An airmen's meteorological information (AIRMET) for mountain obscuration due to clouds and mist was in effect at the time of the accident for the area around the accident site.

Analysis

Primary failure mode

VFR into IMC

First missed decision gate

Pilot could have chosen to avoid flying into deteriorating weather conditions.

NTSB coding

• VFR encounter with IMC · Emergency descent
• Attention / Monitoring
• Planning / Preparation

Evidence available

• Photos
• 9 docket documents

Docket documents9

• Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1form
• Wreckage Release Formform
• Memorandum for Record - Pilot Interviewinterview
• Virginia Department of Transportation Weatherother
• Photo 1 - Forward Left Wing (Photo Courtesy of Virginia State Police)photos
• Photo 2 - Beneath Left Wing (Photo Courtesy of Virginia State Police)photos
• Electronic Devices – Specialist's Factual Reportreport
• Virginia State Police Reportreport
• Weather Report and Recordreport