# NTSB ATL92FA047: Piper PA-28R-200, N33464, Raleigh, NC, February 19, 1992

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: February 18, 1992, 22:52 local (Feb 19, 1992, 03:52 UTC)
- Place: Raleigh, NC
- Location: 35.8886° N, 78.7758° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs from NTSB’s distance and direction from RALEIGH-DURHAM INTL (RDU), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.8886&lon=-78.7758&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed, report March 29, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 8497
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL92FA047
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/8497/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL92FA047

## Probable cause

THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO FOLLOW INSTRUMENT LANDING PROCEDURES BY DESCENDING BELOW THE GLIDE PATH OF THE INSTRUMENT LANDING SYSTEM. FACTORS IN THE ACCIDENT WERE THE LOW CEILINGS AND FOG AT THE AIRPORT AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT.

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight collision with object, approach - faf/outer marker to threshold (ifr)
  - object - tree(s)
  - ifr procedure - not followed, pilot in command (cause)
  - proper altitude - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - fog (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

THE INSTRUMENT FLIGHT RULES (IFR) FLIGHT HAD BEEN CLEARED FOR AN INSTRUMENT LANDING SYSTEM (ILS) APPROACH TO THE AIRPORT.  THERE WERE LOW CEILINGS AND FOG AT THE AIRPORT AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT.  EXAMINATION OF THE RADAR DATA COLLECTED DURING THE TIME OF THE APPROACH, SHOWED THE AIRCRAFT HEADING VARYING NUMEROUS TIMES FROM ONE SIDE OF THE APPROACH TO THE OTHER.  THE AIRCRAFT WAS FOUND IN A WOODED AREA APPROXIMATELY ONE MILE FROM THE AIRPORT, ON THE CENETERLINE FOR THE ILS.  EXAMINATION OF THE AIRCRAFT REVEALED THAT THE NAVIGATIONAL INSTRUMENTS ON BOARD THE AIRCRAFT WERE OPERATING WITHIN FACTORY SPECIFICATIONS.  EXAMINATION OF THE INSTRUMENT LANDING SYSTEM AT THE AIRPORT REVEALED THAT THE SYSTEM WAS OPERATING WITHIN SPECIFICATIONS.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N33464](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N33464-1992-10-20), registration cancelled 1992-10-20, S/N 28R7535153 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28R-200
- Registry model: [Piper PA-28R-200](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28r-200) (registry code 7102811) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 28R-7535153
- Airframe hours: 2930
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-360-C1C 200 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Business, Part 91
- Operator: Stout, Garland H.
- Registered owner: Hawk, Del L.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, January 30, 1992, 32 hours before
- Departed: DCA, WASHINGTON, DC
- Destination: RDU, RALEIGH, NC
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: RDU, Raleigh-Durham, runway 23L, 7,500 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 49; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 368 total, 16 in this make and model, 307 as pilot in command, 30 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 150° at 5 knots
- Lowest ceiling: 300 ft broken
- Temperature: 48 °F, dew point 48 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: RDU

## 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 19920218003139A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19920218003139A), Feb 18, 1992: Piper PA28R200, Raleigh-Durham, NC, Substantial damage, 2 fatal. Struck trees on ILS approach to runway. Had flown below dh 1 mile from airport. Radar slows pilot chasing localizer

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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