20040321004529A

Accident · Destroyed

FAA accident report · Piper PA-32R-301 · Harlan, KY · March 21, 2004

Date: March 21, 2004 · 21:00 local
Place: Harlan, KY
Phase of flight: Normal Cruise
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Destroyed
Aircraft: N8173U
NTSB investigation: NTSBNYC04FA092
Reported as: Piper PA32R301
Reported engine: Lycoming IO540*
People aboard: 6
Fatal injuries: 6
Pilot’s flight hours: 425 total59 in this make and model

N8173URegistration cancelled Nov 3, 2004 · Piper PA-32R-301S/N 32R-8013073 · Built 1980 Airframe modelPiper PA-32R-301 Engine modelLycoming IO-540 seriesReciprocating

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.

(-23) Aircraft departed udg (darlington, SC) to bloomington, IL (bmi) enroute to bmi. The plane was reported overdue and search initiated. Wreckage was located near Harlan, KY on little black mountain and March 24, 2004. Elevation 3050 feet MSL. The pilot and five passengers were fatally injured.

As the FAA filed it

(-23) AIRCRAFT DEPARTED UDG (DARLINGTON, SC) TO BLOOMINGTON, IL (BMI) ENROUTE TO BMI. THE PLANE WAS REPORTED OVERDUE AND SEARCH INITIATED. WRECKAGE WAS LOCATED NEAR HARLAN, KY ON LITTLE BLACK MOUNTAIN AND MARCH 24, 2004. ELEVATION 3050 FEET MSL. THE PILOT AND FIVE PASSENGERS WERE FATALLY INJURED.

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 NYC04FA092Accident · 6 fatalField investigationFinal reportHarlan, KYThe pilot's improper decision to continue VFR flight into IMC conditions and his failure to maintain terrain clearance, which resulted in controlled flight into terrain. Factors were night, snow and a low ceiling.Mar 22, 2004 · Destroyed