Pilot Debrief

MAULE M-7-235C near Brookings, OR — 2011-08-21

Final reportWPR11FA395
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Date
2011-08-21
Location
Brookings, OR, USA
Airport
BOK
Aircraft
MAULE M-7-235C
Registration
N199BF
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
Fatal
Fatalities
1
Phase of flight
Maneuvering

Probable cause

The pilot’s improper decision to continue flight under visual flight rules into instrument meteorological conditions, which resulted in a collision with trees while on approach for landing.

NTSB narrative

The pilot was flying the newly purchased airplane on a cross-country flight under visual flight rules (VFR); the pilot had not filed a VFR flight plan. As he neared his intermediate destination airport, the pilot obtained an in-flight weather briefing, which indicated that airmen's meteorological information (AIRMET) Sierra for instrument meteorological conditions was active and included the arrival airport and surrounding area. The AIRMET reported ceilings below 1,000 feet and visibility below 3 statute miles in broken conditions. The destination airport, located about 1 mile south of the accident site, reported visibility less than 1/4 statute mile, fog, and ceiling overcast at 200 feet. The pilot had not filed an instrument flight rules flight plan. It is likely that the pilot's visibility was obscured by clouds and that he did not realize how low he was flying while on approach to the airport. One witness reported seeing and hearing the airplane circling overhead while it was on approach to the airport and then hearing impact sounds. One witness reported seeing the airplane descend out of the cloud base, which he estimated was about 170 feet above the surface. He observed the airplane bank right, strike a tree, cartwheel, strike another tree, and then hit the ground. Another witness stated that she saw the airplane strike a tree and that, at the time, there was "a little fog." A postaccident examination of the airplane and engine revealed no mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
VFR into IMC
First missed decision gate
Pilot could have chosen to avoid flying in IMC conditions.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • Photos
  • 18 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents18

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