# Accident 20130113000449A: Piper PA-34-200T, Manteo, NC, January 13, 2013

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: January 13, 2013, 11:40 local time
- Place: Manteo, NC
- Airport: Dare County Regional Airport
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Landing: Approach
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 35.9011° N, 75.7014° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.9011&lon=-75.7014&mi=10
- Aircraft: N6537C, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6537C-2018-01-08) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-34-200T (registry code 7103406, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-34-200t) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Continental TSIO-360 series (registry code 17019, https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-tsio-360-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-34-200T
- Reported engine: CONT MOTOR TSIO-360 SER
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 1
- Other injuries: 1
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA13LA113](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA13LA113) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20130113000449A

## Narrative

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

THESE FACTS ARE BASED ON SEVERAL EYE WITNESS REPORTS FROM THE GROUND, ONE OF WHICH WAS A PILOT WHO HAD SHOT THE SAME APPROACH PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT AIRCRAFT.  THESE FACTS ARE ALSO BASED ON THE EYE WITNESS STATEMENT OF THE SURVIVOR.

AIRCRAFT DEPARTED TTA AIRPORT VFR WITH DESTINATION OF MQI.  WEATHER DETERIORATED ALONG THE WAY AND PILOT HAD TO FILE IFR TO CONTINUE.

WHILE HOLDING AT ALGTR INTERSECTION, ACCIDENT AIRCRAFT WAITED FOR ANOTHER AIRCRAFT TO SHOOT THE GPS RWY 5 APPROACH INTO MQI.  THE FIRST AIRCRAFT SUCCESSFULLY SHOT THE APPROACH AND LANDED SAFELY AT MQI.  HE THEN REPORTED TO THE ACCIDENT AIRCRAFT THAT THE VISIBILITY WAS LOWER THAN REPORTED, AND WAS ACTUALLY PROBABLY ONLY 4SM.  HE ALSO REPORTED CEILINGS OF TWO-THREE HUNDRED FEET, 'RIGHT AT MINIMUMS.'  THE PILOT OF THE FIRST AIRCRAFT KNOWS BASED ON COMMUNICATION WITH ATC THAT THIS PIREP REACHED THE ACCIDENT AIRCRAFT.  THE ACCIDENT AIRCRAFT DECIDED TO ATTEMPT THE APPROACH BECAUSE THE FIRST ONE GOT IN SUCCESSFULLY TO THE AIRPORT.

THE ACCIDENT AIRCRAFT SHOT THE GPS RWY 5 APPROACH INTO MQI, AND WAS IN AND OUT OF THE CLOUDS WHILE FLYING OVER THE RUNWAY.  THE FIRST AIRCRAFT, NOW OBSERVING FROM THE GROUND, SAID THE ACCIDENT AIRCRAFT APPEARED TOO FAST AND HIGH TO LAND FROM THE APPROACH.

THE ACCIDENT AIRCRAFT OVERFLEW THE RUNWAY, HOWEVER, DID NOT EXECUTE A PROPER IFR MISSED APPROACH.  THE ACCIDENT AIRCRAFT ATTEMPTED A TRAFFIC PATTERN LOW AND CLOSE TO THE RUNWAY, REPORTING DOWNWIND AND BASE LEGS.  THE BASE LEG WAS THE LAST TRANSMISSION REPORTED.

THE SURVIVOR STATED THAT SHE REMEMBERED RE-ENTERING THE CLOUDS DURING THE TRAFFIC PATTERN, AND VIVIDLY REMEMBERS READING 410' ON THE ALTIMETER.  HOWEVER, AT SOME POINT DURING THE PATTERN SHE REPORTED THAT THEY WERE UNEXPECTEDLY SUBMERGED IN WATER.  SHE ESCAPED THROUGH A 'HOLE IN THE AIRPLANE' AND WAS RESCUED IN THE WATER.  THE RESCUERS REPORTED VISIBILITIES AS LOW AS 20 FEET DURING THE RESCUE, AND WERE UNABLE TO FIND THE PILOT.

DIVERS LATER FOUND THE AIRCRAFT WRECKAGE WITH THE PILOT'S BODY INSIDE.

## 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 ERA13LA113](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA13LA113), Jan 13, 2013: Piper PA-34-200T (N6537C), Manteo, NC, destroyed, 1 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot's attempted visual flight in instrument meteorological conditions while maneuvering at a low altitude in the traffic pattern, which resulted in spatial disorientation and impact with the…

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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