19970829024739A

Accident · Destroyed

FAA accident report · Piper PA-34-200T · Pittsfield, MA · August 29, 1997

Date: August 29, 1997 · 22:00 local
Place: Pittsfield, MA
Airport: Pittsfield Municipal Airport
Phase of flight: Descent
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Destroyed
Aircraft: N40AB
NTSB investigation: NTSBNYC97FA173
Reported as: Piper PA34200T
Reported engine: Continental TSIO360*
People aboard: 1
Fatal injuries: 1
Pilot’s flight hours: 2,930 total2,400 in this make and model35 in the last 90 days

N40ABRegistration cancelled Nov 12, 1998 · Piper PA-34-200TS/N 347570316 Airframe modelPiper PA-34-200T

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

(.4)After a 4 hour night cross country flight, the airplane was observed on radar at 7,500 feet, 50 miles west of the pilot's destination. It was on a ground track of 109 degrees, at a ground speed of 167 knots. The ATC facility was not in communication with or expecting the airplane. The airplane began a descent, and maintained a 109 degree ground track, at 169 knots. The last radar sweep displayed the airplane level at 1,900 feet MSL, on the track of 109 degrees, at 149 knots. The airplane struck a 2,100 foot ridge line in level flight, at 1,800 feet MSL. The destination airport was 105 degrees and 4.2 miles east of the impact site. The cloud coverage was about 2,200 feet MSL. Examination revealed no preimpact failure of the airframe or engines. The pilot had a recent history of high blood sugar and was on medication to control it. There was no record of a flight plan or flight following with ATC.

As the FAA filed it

(.4)AFTER A 4 HOUR NIGHT CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHT, THE AIRPLANE WAS OBSERVED ON RADAR AT 7,500 FEET, 50 MILES WEST OF THE PILOT'S DESTINATION. IT WAS ON A GROUND TRACK OF 109 DEGREES, AT A GROUND SPEED OF 167 KNOTS. THE ATC FACILITY WAS NOT IN COMMUNICATION WITH OR EXPECTING THE AIRPLANE. THE AIRPLANE BEGAN A DESCENT, AND MAINTAINED A 109 DEGREE GROUND TRACK, AT 169 KNOTS. THE LAST RADAR SWEEP DISPLAYED THE AIRPLANE LEVEL AT 1,900 FEET MSL, ON THE TRACK OF 109 DEGREES, AT 149 KNOTS. THE AIRPLANE STRUCK A 2,100 FOOT RIDGE LINE IN LEVEL FLIGHT, AT 1,800 FEET MSL. THE DESTINATION AIRPORT WAS 105 DEGREES AND 4.2 MILES EAST OF THE IMPACT SITE. THE CLOUD COVERAGE WAS ABOUT 2,200 FEET MSL. EXAMINATION REVEALED NO PREIMPACT FAILURE OF THE AIRFRAME OR ENGINES. THE PILOT HAD A RECENT HISTORY OF HIGH BLOOD SUGAR AND WAS ON MEDICATION TO CONTROL IT. THERE WAS NO RECORD OF A FLIGHT PLAN OR FLIGHT FOLLOWING WITH ATC.

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.

NTSB NYC97FA173Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportHancock, MAThe pilot's failure to maintain adequate terrain clearance and the proper altitude. Contributing was mountainous terrain.Aug 29, 1997 · Destroyed