What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
Aircraft N7918C (complex se Piper lance) was cleared for GPS rwy 23 approach into Manteo, NC (mqi) by ATC at 2240Z. AWOS indicated wind 360DEG. @ 9KTS, vis. 4MI./rain, ceiling overcast. ATC radar service terminated at 2241Z. Approx. 2245, pilot contacted mqi CTAF, “inbound on rwy. 23 GPS approach” and requested advisories with conditions and ceiling. Mqi personnel updated pilot with weather per AWOS, “wind 350DEG. @ 5KTS gusting 8KTS, ceiling 300’ broken, 1100’ overcast. After approach, a/c flew down length of runway approx. 100’ AGL (landing distance available is 4,000’). Pilot stated he saw runway 23 and was going to go around for rwy. 5 approach (opposite rwy). A/c then circled left while climbing back into clouds. Pilot keyed microphone continuously (even though airport was fully illuminated), started descent for landing and transmitted, “lance 8C, 1 mile final rwy. 5” (a/c was on short final, low alt. For rwy 35 when this occurred). Pilot was not aware of lower than normal alt. Until clipping trees and impacting a house ¾ mi. Short of rwy.35. Investigation revealed no mechanical malfunctions or technical irregularities w/ a/c which was destroyed.
As the FAA filed it
AIRCRAFT N7918C (COMPLEX SE PIPER LANCE) WAS CLEARED FOR GPS RWY 23 APPROACH INTO MANTEO, NC (MQI) BY ATC AT 2240Z. AWOS INDICATED WIND 360DEG. @ 9KTS, VIS. 4MI./RAIN, CEILING OVERCAST. ATC RADAR SERVICE TERMINATED AT 2241Z. APPROX. 2245, PILOT CONTACTED MQI CTAF, “INBOUND ON RWY. 23 GPS APPROACH” AND REQUESTED ADVISORIES WITH CONDITIONS AND CEILING. MQI PERSONNEL UPDATED PILOT WITH WEATHER PER AWOS, “WIND 350DEG. @ 5KTS GUSTING 8KTS, CEILING 300’ BROKEN, 1100’ OVERCAST. AFTER APPROACH, A/C FLEW DOWN LENGTH OF RUNWAY APPROX. 100’ AGL (LANDING DISTANCE AVAILABLE IS 4,000’). PILOT STATED HE SAW RUNWAY 23 AND WAS GOING TO GO AROUND FOR RWY. 5 APPROACH (OPPOSITE RWY). A/C THEN CIRCLED LEFT WHILE CLIMBING BACK INTO CLOUDS. PILOT KEYED MICROPHONE CONTINUOUSLY (EVEN THOUGH AIRPORT WAS FULLY ILLUMINATED), STARTED DESCENT FOR LANDING AND TRANSMITTED, “LANCE 8C, 1 MILE FINAL RWY. 5” (A/C WAS ON SHORT FINAL, LOW ALT. FOR RWY 35 WHEN THIS OCCURRED). PILOT WAS NOT AWARE OF LOWER THAN NORMAL ALT. UNTIL CLIPPING TREES AND IMPACTING A HOUSE ¾ MI. SHORT OF RWY.35. INVESTIGATION REVEALED NO MECHANICAL MALFUNCTIONS OR TECHNICAL IRREGULARITIES W/ A/C WHICH WAS DESTROYED.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.
Other reports on N7918C · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.