20041114030049A

Accident · Destroyed

FAA accident report · Piper PA-28R-200 · Tunica, MS · November 14, 2004

Date: November 14, 2004 · 12:20 local
Place: Tunica, MS
Phase of flight: Normal Cruise
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Destroyed
Aircraft: N56960
NTSB investigation: NTSBMIA05FA028
Reported as: Piper PA28R200
People aboard: 3
Fatal injuries: 3
Pilot’s flight hours: 400 total100 in this make and model14 in the last 90 days

N56960Registration cancelled May 23, 2006 · Piper PA-28R-200S/N 28R-7435064 · Built 1973 Airframe modelPiper PA-28R-200 Engine modelLycoming I0360 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 was enroute from L38 to maw. Airman called mem approach control asking for clearance through class b airspace. Airman was given transponder code and assigned new frequency. Airman entered code but failed to check-in on new frequency. Aircraft was identified on radar and then lost. Eyewitnesses called 911 to report seeing the aircraft impact with the ground. The main fuselage landed on its back in a cotton field six miles south of the Tunica, MS airport. Approximately 1/2 of the outboard side of each wing and the stabilator were located in a field approximately 3/4 mile north of the other wreckage. Aircraft appeared to break up in flight.

As the FAA filed it

(-23) AIRCRAFT WAS ENROUTE FROM L38 TO MAW. AIRMAN CALLED MEM APPROACH CONTROL ASKING FOR CLEARANCE THROUGH CLASS B AIRSPACE. AIRMAN WAS GIVEN TRANSPONDER CODE AND ASSIGNED NEW FREQUENCY. AIRMAN ENTERED CODE BUT FAILED TO CHECK-IN ON NEW FREQUENCY. AIRCRAFT WAS IDENTIFIED ON RADAR AND THEN LOST. EYEWITNESSES CALLED 911 TO REPORT SEEING THE AIRCRAFT IMPACT WITH THE GROUND. THE MAIN FUSELAGE LANDED ON ITS BACK IN A COTTON FIELD SIX MILES SOUTH OF THE TUNICA, MS AIRPORT. APPROXIMATELY 1/2 OF THE OUTBOARD SIDE OF EACH WING AND THE STABILATOR WERE LOCATED IN A FIELD APPROXIMATELY 3/4 MILE NORTH OF THE OTHER WRECKAGE. AIRCRAFT APPEARED TO BREAK UP IN FLIGHT.

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 MIA05FA028Accident · 3 fatalField investigationFinal reportDubbs, MSThe pilot's inadvertent flight into instrument meteorological conditions and his in-flight loss of control, resulting in overstress of the airframe and subsequent structural failure.Nov 14, 2004 · Substantial damage