What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
On December 8, 2021 at approximately 19:55 CST, N3865K took off from west Houston airport (iws) heading to pearland, Texas (lvj). Upon climb out the airplane flew into IMC conditions at around 800 to 900 ft AGL. The pilot experienced spatial disorientation, the outcome was loss of directional control which resulted in a high impact crash resulting in loss of life.
The airplane hit at a 45 degree angle inverted. All the components were found at crash site. Both fuel tanks were breached, no post crash fire nor fuel were found at crash site. Student pilot was ejected from airplane, the passenger was still strapped to the right seat. Airplane was destroyed. Investigation team found a tree , which was approximately 5 inches in diameter, with a clean cut about a 45 degree angle consistent with a propeller strike and sign that the engine was still producing power. RPM gage was stamped at 1000 RPM time of impact. Aircraft was inspected by Piper representative for flight control continuity, they all checked out ok. Engine was inspected by Lycoming representative and it showed to be operational at time of crash. Aircraft fuel service receipt was found at crash site. Airplane was filled with 40.6 gallons of 100 ll on December 4, 2021, at west Houston airport. Maintenance records were not found, however mechanical failure was not suspected.
Reviewing pilot qualifications; student pilot was not signed off to solo in make/model aircraft. Pilot restricted from carrying passengers as a student pilot. Pilot not rated to fly into IMC. Did not maintain VFR. Did not file an IFR flight plan.
privacy data omitted
The underlying factor was pilot?s inability to recognize pilot limitations and resulted in poor decision making. 14 CFR 61.89A(1)(6)(7)(8) ? Student pilot general limitations 14 CFR 91.155A(c)(d) basic weather minimums.
As of this date the autopsy report has not been published from cami. I will ammend this report if necessary when the report becomes available.
As the FAA filed it
ON DECEMBER 8, 2021 AT APPROXIMATELY 19:55 CST, N3865K TOOK OFF FROM WEST HOUSTON AIRPORT (IWS) HEADING TO PEARLAND, TEXAS (LVJ). UPON CLIMB OUT THE AIRPLANE FLEW INTO IMC CONDITIONS AT AROUND 800 TO 900 FT AGL. THE PILOT EXPERIENCED SPATIAL DISORIENTATION, THE OUTCOME WAS LOSS OF DIRECTIONAL CONTROL WHICH RESULTED IN A HIGH IMPACT CRASH RESULTING IN LOSS OF LIFE.
THE AIRPLANE HIT AT A 45 DEGREE ANGLE INVERTED. ALL THE COMPONENTS WERE FOUND AT CRASH SITE. BOTH FUEL TANKS WERE BREACHED, NO POST CRASH FIRE NOR FUEL WERE FOUND AT CRASH SITE. STUDENT PILOT WAS EJECTED FROM AIRPLANE, THE PASSENGER WAS STILL STRAPPED TO THE RIGHT SEAT. AIRPLANE WAS DESTROYED. INVESTIGATION TEAM FOUND A TREE , WHICH WAS APPROXIMATELY 5 INCHES IN DIAMETER, WITH A CLEAN CUT ABOUT A 45 DEGREE ANGLE CONSISTENT WITH A PROPELLER STRIKE AND SIGN THAT THE ENGINE WAS STILL PRODUCING POWER. RPM GAGE WAS STAMPED AT 1000 RPM TIME OF IMPACT. AIRCRAFT WAS INSPECTED BY PIPER REPRESENTATIVE FOR FLIGHT CONTROL CONTINUITY, THEY ALL CHECKED OUT OK. ENGINE WAS INSPECTED BY LYCOMING REPRESENTATIVE AND IT SHOWED TO BE OPERATIONAL AT TIME OF CRASH. AIRCRAFT FUEL SERVICE RECEIPT WAS FOUND AT CRASH SITE. AIRPLANE WAS FILLED WITH 40.6 GALLONS OF 100 LL ON DECEMBER 4, 2021, AT WEST HOUSTON AIRPORT. MAINTENANCE RECORDS WERE NOT FOUND, HOWEVER MECHANICAL FAILURE WAS NOT SUSPECTED.
REVIEWING PILOT QUALIFICATIONS; STUDENT PILOT WAS NOT SIGNED OFF TO SOLO IN MAKE/MODEL AIRCRAFT. PILOT RESTRICTED FROM CARRYING PASSENGERS AS A STUDENT PILOT. PILOT NOT RATED TO FLY INTO IMC. DID NOT MAINTAIN VFR. DID NOT FILE AN IFR FLIGHT PLAN.
^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^
THE UNDERLYING FACTOR WAS PILOT?S INABILITY TO RECOGNIZE PILOT LIMITATIONS AND RESULTED IN POOR DECISION MAKING. 14 CFR 61.89A(1)(6)(7)(8) ? STUDENT PILOT GENERAL LIMITATIONS 14 CFR 91.155A(C)(D) BASIC WEATHER MINIMUMS.
AS OF THIS DATE THE AUTOPSY REPORT HAS NOT BEEN PUBLISHED FROM CAMI. I WILL AMMEND THIS REPORT IF NECESSARY WHEN THE REPORT BECOMES AVAILABLE.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.