# Accident 20030206001659A: Piper PA24250, Florence, SC, February 6, 2003

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: February 6, 2003, 18:53 local time
- Place: Florence, SC
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Scud Running
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 34.2792° N, 79.7597° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.2792&lon=-79.7597&mi=10
- Aircraft: N5587P, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5587P-2003-05-12) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-24-250 (registry code 7102404, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-24-250) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming 0-540 series (registry code 41532, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-540-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA24250
- Reported engine: LYC O540A1A
- People aboard: 3
- Fatal injuries: 3
- Pilot flight hours: 500 total
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ATL03FA041](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL03FA041) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030206001659A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

(-23) ON FEBRUARY 6, 2003, AT 1853 EASTERN STANDARD TIME, A PIPER PA-24-250, N5587P, COLLIDED WITH TREES AND TERRAIN WHILE MANEUVERING IN THE VICINITY OF FLORENCE, SOUTH CAROLINA. THE POSITIONING FLIGHT WAS OPERATED UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF TITLE 14 CFR 91 WITH AN INSTRUMENT FLIGHT PLAN FILED. THE AIRPLANE SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE, AND THE CERTIFICATED FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR, THE CERTIFICATED INSTRUMENT FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR-RATED PASSENGER, AND THE OTHER PASSENGER RECEIVED FATAL INJURIES. THE FLIGHT DEPARTED ORMOND BEACH MUNICIPAL AIRPORT, ORMOND BEACH, FLORIDA, AT 1530. A REVIEW OF THE RECORDED WEATHER DATA REVEALED AT 1853 AT FLORENCE REGIONAL AIRPORT, SOUTH CAROLINA, REPORTED CONDITIONS WERE WINDS 050 AT 9 KNOTS, VISIBILITY 4 STATUTE MILES WITH LIGHT RAIN, BROKEN CLOUDS AT 600 FEET ABOVE GROUND LEVEL, OVERCAST AT 1500 ABOVE GROUND LEVEL, TEMPERATURE 3 DEGREES CELSIUS, DEW POINT MINUS 1 DEGREE CELSIUS, ALTIMETER 30.21, WITH REMARKS THAT THE CEILING WAS VARIABLE BETWEEN 300 FEET TO 800 FEET ABOVE GROUND LEVEL.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB ATL03FA041](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL03FA041), Feb 6, 2003: Piper PA-24-250 (N5587P), Florence, SC, destroyed, 3 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot experienced spatial disorientation, which resulted in a loss of control and the subsequent collision with the ground. A factors was dark night and clouds.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft 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. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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