# Accident 20180520005659A: Piper PA-34-200T, Bennington, VT, May 20, 2018

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: May 20, 2018, 14:25 local time
- Place: Bennington, VT
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 42.9239° N, 73.1392° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.9239&lon=-73.1392&mi=10
- Aircraft: N1101X, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1101X-2019-09-06) (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 17023, 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: 1
- Fatal injuries: 1
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot, flight instructor
- Pilot flight hours: 256 total
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA18FA148](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA18FA148) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20180520005659A

## Narrative

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

THE PILOT DEPARTED BTV AT APPROXIMATELY 1744 WITH A DESTINATION OF OXC. IN REVIEW OF THE AUDIO AND VIDEO RADAR, THE PILOT WAS RECIEVING FLIGHT FOLLOWING FROM ALBANY APPROACH CONTROL. THE CONTROLLER ADVISED THE PILOT OF THE LOCATION OF PRECIPITATION, ALONG WITH MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN NEARBY. THE CONTROLLER SUBSEQUENTLY SOLICITED A PILOT REPORT FROM THE PILOT REGARDING CLOUD BASES. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT THE CLOUD BASES WERE AT 3,000 FT; HOWEVER, AT THAT TIME, RADAR INDICATED THAT THE ACCIDENT AIRPLANE WAS AT 3,400 FT. THE CONTROLLER THEN ASKED THE PILOT IF HE WAS IN THE CLOUDS AND THE PILOT RESPONDED THAT HE WAS COMING OUT OF THEM. THE CONTROLLER SUGGESTED A WESTBOUND TURN FOR LOWER TERRAIN AND CONTINUED RADAR COVERAGE. AT THAT TIME, THE ACCIDENT AIRPLANE WAS FLYING BETWEEN 3,200 FT AND 4,000 FT MEAN SEA LEVEL (MSL), BUT THE MINIMUM VECTORING ALTITUDE FOR THAT AREA WAS 5,000 FT MSL. THE AIRPLANE BRIEFLY TURNED TO A WESTBOUND HEADING, BUT THEN TURNED BACK TO A SOUTHEAST HEADING. ABOUT 4 MILES LATER, THE CONTROLLER AGAIN ADVISED THE PILOT THAT IF HE CONTINUED ON THE PRESENT HEADING THAT RADAR COVERAGE WOULD BE LOST. THE PILOT ASKED AGAIN WHAT HEADING HE SHOULD FLY AND THE CONTROLLER RESPONDED WESTBOUND, WHICH THE PILOT RESPONDED A HEADING OF 270 DEGREES. RADAR AND RADIO CONTACT WERE THEN LOST DURING THE SECOND WESTBOUND TURN.

## 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 ERA18FA148](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA18FA148), May 20, 2018: Piper PA34 (N1101X), Bennington, VT, destroyed, 1 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot's improper decision to attempt a visual flight rules flight in instrument meteorological conditions, which resulted in a loss of control during a turn.

## Other reports on N1101X (2)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Incident 20080530836399I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20080530836399I), May 30, 2008: Piper PA34200T (N1101X), Edgewater, MD, Minor damage. (-23) I learned of this incident on 6/5/2008 from a request to ferry the aircraft for maintenance. An inspection of the aircraft found that the right propeller…
- [Incident 19870811052059I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19870811052059I), Aug 11, 1987: Piper PA34200T (N1101X), Andover, NJ, Minor damage. Overshot runway end due to excessive landing speed.

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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