Pilot Debrief

FOCKE-WULF FWP 149D near Kenansville, NC — 2013-11-17

Final reportERA14FA044
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Date
2013-11-17
Location
Kenansville, NC, USA
Airport
DPL
Aircraft
FOCKE-WULF FWP 149D
Registration
N132FW
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
Fatal
Fatalities
1
Phase of flight
Approach

Probable cause

The pilot’s loss of control in instrument meteorological conditions for reasons that could not be determined because examination of the airframe and engine revealed no anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s self-induced pressure to make the flight.

Contributing factors

Contributing to the accident was the pilot's self-induced pressure to make the flight.

NTSB narrative

According to the pilot's wife, the pilot departed on a cross-country flight to attend a friend's funeral. He told her that he intended to stop to purchase fuel at an airport 20 miles from the departure airport. Although she reported that the pilot had indicated to her the night before the accident that he was concerned about a cold front that was moving in, it could not be determined whether he consulted any weather resources before the flight, and there was no record that he obtained an official preflight weather briefing. The pilot departed without filing an instrument flight rules flight plan for the flight; instrument meteorological conditions existed at the time of departure. A witness at the departure airport reported that he observed an airplane taxiing and heard it depart and that the weather at the time was very foggy. A review of air traffic control radar data showed the airplane 1 mile north of the departure airport tracking northwest toward the intended fuel stop destination, and the last radar target was 8 miles northwest of the departure airport. The airplane's wreckage was located in a wooded area resting nose-down at the base of a tree 1/2 mile from the destination airport. All flight control surfaces and major components were located at the accident site. Postaccident examination of the airframe and engine revealed no anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. The reported weather conditions at both airports about the time of the accident included low ceilings and low visibility; fog was reported at the destination airport, and the departure airport had been reporting overcast ceilings at 200 ft above ground level for several hours before the flight departed. It is likely that the pilot placed pressure upon himself to make the flight because he was going to attend his friend's funeral.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
VFR into IMC
First missed decision gate
Pilot did not obtain a preflight weather briefing despite known poor conditions.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • ADS-B / radar
  • Photos
  • 28 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents28

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