Pilot Debrief

PIPER PA-28R near Marathon, FL — 2015-08-10

Final reportERA15FA299
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Date
2015-08-10
Location
Marathon, FL, USA
Airport
MTH
Aircraft
PIPER PA-28R
Registration
N54380
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
Fatal
Fatalities
1
Phase of flight
Initial climb

Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain a positive climb rate after takeoff due to spatial disorientation while turning after takeoff in dark night conditions in a sparsely populated area, which resulted in the airplane’s descent into water. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's decision to depart on a night flight over water.

Contributing factors

Contributing to the accident was the pilot's decision to depart on a night flight over water.

NTSB narrative

According to the airplane owner, the noninstrument-rated pilot had rented the airplane in Palm Beach, Florida, 1 day before the accident and was not scheduled to return the airplane until the day after the accident. The rental agreement prohibited night flight to or from the Florida Keys. However, about 4 hours after sunset on the night of the accident, the pilot departed an airport on the Florida Keys. Airport security video recorded the airplane becoming airborne, climbing, and beginning to turn right. A witness reported seeing the airplane descending into the water with the engines running. The flight was conducted on a dark, moonless night, and in a sparsely populated area of Florida near the water. No visible horizon could be seen on the video. Based on the dark night conditions, the lack of visual reference at the time of the accident, the pilot's low overall flight time, and the pilot's lack of an instrument rating, it is likely that he became spatially disoriented, which led to the subsequent descent into water. Examination of the wreckage revealed a right wing low attitude at the time of the impact, which was consistent with the pilot maintaining the right turn seen in the security video recordings. Examination of the airframe and engine revealed no evidence of mechanical malfunctions or abnormalities that would have precluded normal operation.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Spatial disorientation
First missed decision gate
Pilot could have avoided night flight without visual references.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • Video
  • Photos
  • 14 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents14

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