ATL07FA069

The pilot cancelled an instrument flight rules flight plan and was continuing with a night visual approach for landing. A pilot rated passenger located in the right front seat informed the pilot, "I like to fly my approach high." The pilot replied to the passenger either, "I have the approach lights or I' am on the VASI." The pilot rated passenger asked the pilot a short time later, "Why are we off to the left of the runway," and the pilot replied, "Because we are going to crash." A witness who lives south of the airport stated he went outside to smoke a cigarette. He observed an airplane descending towards the airport. The airplane was about 100 feet west of his home in a descent and started a right turn towards the runway. The airplane landing light, navigation lights, and strobe lights were illuminated. A decrease in engine power was heard followed by an increase in engine power. The witness stated it appeared the pilot overshot the runway and collided with the power lines to the left of the runway. The witness observed an electrical flash followed by a fire after the airplane collided with the ground. Examination of the runway revealed no physical evidence to indicate the accident airplane touched down on the ground before the runway overrun, on the overrun, on the runway, or in the grass to the left of Runway 08. The Airport Manager for Andrews Murphy Airport reported no deficiencies with the airport lighting system on April 8, 2007, or April 9, 2007, before the airplane accident. Examination of the airframe, flight controls, engine assembly and accessories revealed no evidence of a pre-crash mechanical failure or malfunction.

History of flight

On April 9, 2007, at 0030 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-32RT-300T, N21423, registered to a private owner, operating as a 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight collided with power and cable TV lines and the ground during a visual approach to Runway 8 at Andrews Murphy Airport, Andrews, North Carolina. Visual meteorological conditions (VFR) prevailed and an instrument flight rules (IFR) flight plan was filed. The pilot had cancelled his IFR clearance before making a VFR descent for landing. A post crash fire destroyed the airplane. The private pilot and one passenger were fatally injured. Another pilot rated passenger received serious injuries. The flight originated from Orlando Executive Airport, Orlando, Florida, , on April 8, 2007, at 2121.

The pilot rated passenger stated the pilot cancelled IFR with Atlanta Center. The pilot continued with a VFR descent to Runway 08. The pilot rated passenger informed the pilot, "I like to fly my approach high." The pilot stated either, "I have the approach lights or I' am on the VASI." The pilot rated passenger asked the pilot a short time later, "Why are we off to the left of the runway," and the pilot replied, "Because we are going to crash." When the pilot rated passenger was asked if he remembered the airplane colliding with the wires, ground, post crash fire, or exiting the airplane, he stated no. When asked if the airplane experienced any mechanical problems, he stated no.

A witness stated he was listening to a radio scanner and observed the airplane out his bedroom window. The airplane was heading towards Andrews Murphy Airport. The witness stated he heard the pilot state on the radio frequency that he was on a seven mile final for Runway 08. He also heard a "clicking noise" over the radio, and informed his wife that the pilot was turning on the runway lights at the airport.

Another witness who lives south of the airport stated he went outside his home to smoke a cigarette. He observed an airplane descending towards the Andrews Murphy Airport. The airplane was about 100 feet west of his home in a descent. The airplane started a right turn towards the runway in the vicinity of Team Industry. The airplane landing light, navigation lights, and strobe lights were illuminated. The witness observed the runway lights come on and could see the red lights off the approach end of the runway. A decrease in engine power was heard followed by an increase in engine power. The witness stated it appeared the pilot overshot the runway and collided with the power lines to the left of the runway. The witness observed an electrical flash followed by a fire after the airplane collided with the ground.

A witness who was working at Team Industry located off the approach end of Runway 08 stated he observed an airplane on final for Andrews Murphy Airport. The witness observed the landing light, strobe lights, and the navigation lights were on. The airplane passed overhead and he heard a decrease in engine power as if the pilot was landing. A short time later there was a total loss of electrical power at his work site.

Another witness who lives adjacent to the airport was in bed and heard a noise similar to lightning. The witness got up, looked outside his window, and observed a fire adjacent to his driveway. His wife called the 911 emergency operators and reported a brush fire. The operator informed his wife there had been a plane crash. The witness went to the crash site to assist and observed a man on fire crawling on the ground. The witness instructed the man to roll over in the dirt to put the fire out. Law enforcement and emergency personnel arrived and took charge of the accident site.

Personnel information

Review of information on file with the FAA Airman's Certification Division, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, revealed the pilot was issued a private pilot certificate on August 6, 2006, with ratings for airplane single engine land. The private pilot was issued an airplane instrument rating on March 21, 2007. Review of records on file with the FAA Aero Medical Records revealed the pilot held a third-class medical certificate issued on May 4, 2006, with no restrictions. The pilot reported on his application for the medical certificate that he had accumulated 75 total flight hours. The pilot's last flight review was conducted on March 21, 2007. The pilot's logbook was not located. According to friends of the family the deceased pilot kept his logbook in the airplane. The logbook is presumed to have been destroyed by the post crash fire.

Review of information on file with the FAA Airman's Certification Division, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, revealed the pilot rated passenger was issued a private pilot certificate on April 28, 2006, with ratings for airplane single engine land and instrument airplane. Review of records on file with the FAA Aero Medical Records revealed the pilot held a third-class medical certificate issued on July 21, 2005, with no restrictions. The pilot reported on his application for the medical certificate that he had accumulated 800 total flight hours. The passenger stated in an interview with the NTSB that he has 1,000 total flight hours, and his last flight review was conducted two weeks before the accident in his PA-28.

Aircraft information

Examination of the airplane logbooks revealed the last annual inspection was conducted on April 24, 2006.The tachometer time at the time of the annual inspection was 2,480.1 hours. The engine had accumulated 355.10 hours since the last major overhaul. The engine was overhauled on November 15, 2000; at Textron Lycoming and the total time since new was 2,125.0 hours. In July of 2003, the engine was disassembled, inspected, and repaired by Power Aviation due to a propeller strike. The engine was reinstalled on the airplane on August 11, 2003. The last entry in the engine logbook was on March 2, 2007. The Hobbs meter was 1,403.5 hours and the tachometer was 2,850.3 hours. The engine had accumulated 725.3 hours since major overhaul and 370.2 hours since the last annual inspection. The Hobbs meter and tachometer were destroyed and the total engine time, time since annual inspection, and time since major overhaul could not be determined. The last altimeter, static system inspection, and transponder inspection was conducted on August 15, 2006. The airplane was topped off with 47.6 gallons of 100-low lead fuel on April 8, 2007, at Sheltair Aviation Services, Orlando, Florida.

Meteorological information

The Andrews Murphy Airport, Andrews, North Carolina, 0021 surface weather observation was: wind calm, visibility 10 miles, clear, temperature 28.4 degrees Fahrenheit, dew point temperature 17.6 degrees Fahrenheit, and altimeter 30.10. Sunset was at 2003 and moonrise was at 0203.

Airport information

Andrews Murphy County Airport, Andrews, North Carolina, is located 2 miles west of Andrews, North Carolina. The airport is surrounded by high terrain and the field elevation is 1,697 feet. Runway 08 and Runway 26 are 5,500 feet long and 100 feet wide. Runway 08 has a 2 light PAPI visual glide slope indicator and was in operation at the time of the accident. Atlanta Center is the controlling Air Route Traffic Control Center. The minimum sector altitude is 7,700 feet for a 25 mile radius around MIRINE, and the minimum vectoring altitude is 5,500 feet. The minimum obstruction clearance altitude on the L20 en-route chart from the south towards HARRIS VOR is 7,000 feet.

The FAA inspected Runway 08 after the accident. There was no physical evidence to indicate the accident touched down on the ground before the overrun, on the overrun, on the runway, or in the grass to the left of Runway 08. The Airport Manager for Andrews Murphy Airport reported no deficiencies with the airport lighting system on April 8, 2007, or April 9, 2007, before the airplane accident.

Wreckage and impact information

The wreckage of N21423 was loc