# NTSB ATL88FA233: Piper PA-32-300, N4169W, Pittsboro, NC, August 21, 1988

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: August 21, 1988, 04:00 local (08:00 UTC)
- Place: Pittsboro, NC
- Coordinates: 35.710289, -79.169586 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.7103&lon=-79.1696&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report March 26, 1990
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 7621
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL88FA233
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/7621/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL88FA233

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- In flight encounter with weather, descent - normal
  - judgment - poor, pilot in command (cause)
  - impairment(alcohol), pilot in command (cause)
  - overconfidence in personal ability, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - light condition - dark night (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - clouds (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - fog (contributing factor)
  - vfr flight into imc - continued, pilot in command (cause)
- Loss of control - in flight, descent - normal
  - aircraft control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - spatial disorientation, pilot in command (cause)
  - lack of total instrument time, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

THE PLT HAD AN INSTRUMENT PLT ACCOMPANY HIM ON THE FLIGHT TO MYRTLE BEACH IN THE EVENT THE WX REQUIRED IFR FOR THE RETURN FLT. WHEN THEY ARRIVED AT MYRTLE BEACH, THE PLT DECIDED THAT THEY WOULD REMAIN OVERNIGHT. AFTER VISITING SOME NIGHT SPOTS AND DOING SOME DRINKING, THE TWO BECAME SEPARATED AND WENT THEIR OWN WAY. THE PLT DECIDED TO RETURN TO CHAPEL HILL. HE FLEW THE ROUTE AT 8,500 FEET. ARRIVING NEAR HIS DESTINATION, HE CONTACTED RALEIGH/DURHAM (RDU) APCH CONT AND WAS CLEARED TO DESCEND AT PLT'S DISCRETION, BUT WAS TOLD TO MAINTAIN VFR. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH TREES IN INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS IN A HIGH SPEED DESCENT. INDEPENDENTLY CONDUCTED TOXICOLOGY TESTS INDICATED BLOOD ALCOHOL LEVELS OF 0.10% AND 0.071%. ON THE PILOT'S APPLICATION FOR A MEDICAL CERTIFICATE HE HAD DENIED ANY RECORD OF TRAFFIC CONVICTIONS OR EXCESSIVE DRINKING HABITS. DURING THE INVESTIGATION IT WAS LEARNED THAT THE PILOT HAD BEEN CONVICTED FOR DWI IN JUNE 1987 AND HAD HAD HIS DRIVER LICENSE SUSPENDED FOR 1 YEAR IN JANUARY 1988.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N4169W](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4169W-1992-03-05), registration cancelled 1992-03-05, S/N 3240247 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-32-300
- Registry model: [Piper PA-32-300](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-32-300) (registry code 7103212) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 32-40237
- Airframe hours: 1986
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-540-K1A5 300 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Chapel Hill Flying Club
- Registered owner: Performance Aviation, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, July 1, 1988, 63 hours before
- Departed: CRE, N. MYRTLE BEACH, SC
- Destination: W5Z, CHAPEL HILL, NC
- Airport: W52, Horace Williams, runway 8, 3,500 × 75 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 26; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 198 total, 7 in this make and model, 94 as pilot in command, 142 in the last 90 days, 37 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 230° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 3 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 400 ft broken
- Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 72 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: RDU, 19 nm away

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19880821034129A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19880821034129A), Aug 21, 1988: Piper PA32300, Pittsboro, NC, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Tried to descend in IFR IMC at night to a VFR landing. Hit fog obscured trees. Had consumed alcohol prior to flight

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.

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