# NTSB ATL95FA174: Piper PA-44-180, N2160E, Columbia, SC, September 27, 1995 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report - Date: September 27, 1995, 01:56 local (05:56 UTC) - Place: Columbia, SC - Coordinates: 33.999351, -81.029602 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.9994&lon=-81.0296&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 2 fatal - Status: Completed, report November 11, 1996 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 3488 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL95FA174 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/3488/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL95FA174 ## Probable cause the pilot's improper IFR procedure by allowing the airplane to descend below the ILS glideslope and by continued descent below the decision height. Factors relating to the accident were: darkness, low ceiling, and fog. ## 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) - light condition - dark night (contributing factor) - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor) - weather condition - fog (contributing factor) - ifr procedure - improper, pilot in command (cause) - proper glidepath - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - decision height - below, pilot in command (cause) - object - tree(s) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled ## Analysis The pilot and his safety pilot were both instrument and multiengine rated. They were on an instrument flight plan, and were executing an ILS approach to runway 11. The weather was in part: 300 feet overcast and 3 miles visibility with fog. The pilot had received a weather briefing, and reported that he had received the local ATIS at the airport. During the approach, the airplane collided with a 100 foot tall and a 150 foot tall pine tree, then crashed to the ground. Impact occurred about 1/2 mile from the approach end of runway 11. No preimpact failure of the engines, controls, or instruments was found during the investigation. ## Factual narrative HISTORY OF FLIGHT On September 27, 1995, at 0156 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-44-180, N2160E, collided with trees and then the terrain during an instrument approach to the Columbia Metropolitan Airport, Columbia, South Carolina. The pilot and his safety pilot were fatally injured, and the airplane was destroyed by a post crash fire. The airplane was being operated by the pilot under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed and an instrument flight plan was in effect for the personal flight. The flight originated at the Macon Downtown Airport, Macon, Georgia, at approximately 0000 hours. The pilot had rented a block of flight time in the airplane, from the airplane's owner, to build his proficiency. Since he did not meet insurance requirements to conduct solo operations, a safety pilot had accompanied him on the flight. Approximately 2330 hours the pilot contacted Macon Automated Flight Service Station to file an IFR flight plan, and received a weather briefing for the flight. The pilot received the forecasted weather conditions for the destination, and for the surrounding airports in order to select an alternate. As the pilot climbed to cruising altitude he received the Macon altimeter of 29.95; the setting was given at 0002 and again at 0007 hours. At 0039 the pilot reported that he had the current weather at Columbia via ATIS (Automated Terminal Information System) and was issued the Columbia altimeter setting of 29.94. The flight had been cleared for, and was conducting an instrument landing system approach to runway 11, at 0052 hours. At 0053 N2160E was asked to maintain maximum forward airspeed. The last transmission of N2160E was at 0055 hours, at 0056 hours a short ELT (Emergency Locator Transmitter) was heard by air traffic control during a transmission to another aircraft. The airplane impacted the ground about 1/2 mile from the approach end of runway 11. The ceiling and visibility, at the time of the accident, was 300 feet overcast and three miles in fog. PERSONNEL INFORMATION The pilot held a commercial pilot certificate with airplane single-engine land, multi-engine land, and an instrument airplane rating. He held a first class medical with the limitation that he shall wear correcting lens while exercising the privileges of his airman's certificate. Additional personnel information may be obtained in this report on page 3 under section titled First Pilot Information. AIRCRAFT INFORMATION The Piper PA-44-180 is a four place, two engine, retractable tricycle gear airplane. The last annual inspection of N2160E was accomplished on September 22, 1995, and the aircraft had accumulated 14 flight hours since that inspection. Additional aircraft information may be obtained in this report on page 2 under section titled Aircraft Information. METEOROLOGICAL INFORMATION The forecast for Columbia was: 700 feet broken, 3 miles in fog, occasional 3500 broken, 2 miles in fog. Weather at the time of the accident was instrument meteorological conditions. The Columbia Metropolitan Airport, located 1 mile west, northwest of the accident site, reported 300 feet overcast and three miles in fog during the time frame that the accident occurred. The actual ceiling was lower than the forecast. Additional meteorological information may be obtained in this report on pages 3 and 4 under section titled Weather Information. WRECKAGE AND IMPACT INFORMATION The aircraft collided with a 100 foot tall pine tree and then a 150 foot tall pine tree, and broke off the top 10 feet and 20 feet of the tree, respectively. Paint chips from the aircraft were found in the same area that the broken tree tops were found. The wreckage was distributed over an area of approximately 371 feet on a magnetic heading of about 108 degrees. The left and right wing were found broken up into many pieces and spread over the entire area of the wreckage. Both the left and the right wing separated from the fuselage at the point where the engine mounts to the wing. The wings both had extensive crushing due to impact. The left engine was found 10 feet northwest of the main wreckage and the right engine was found 20 feet in southeast of the main wreckage. Both of the vacuum pumps were recovered and disassembled. The veins of the right and left vacuum pump were in tact. The shear connection of the left vacuum pump has been melted, and the block has been cracked. The left vacuum pump has fire and impact damage. There was continuity of both engine drive trains. The left and the right propeller blades showed signs of "S" bending, and twisting toward low pitch. Most of the engine accessories were consumed in the fire on both engines. The left engine gauges sustained major fire damage and were unreadable. For specific details on the wreckage distribution, see the Wreckage Distribution Diagram. MEDICAL AND PATHOLOGICAL INFORMATION An autopsy of the pilot was performed by Dr. Joel S. Sexton of the Newberry County Memorial Hospital, Newberry, South Carolina. A toxicological examination of the pilot was performed by Dr. John Soper of the Federal Aviation Administration Toxicology and Accident Research Laboratory. The toxicology report stated that Mr. Dahlheim was free of ethanol and drugs (See attached Record of Conversation With Dr. Soper.) An autopsy of the safety pilot was also performed by Dr. Joel S. Sexton of the Newberry County Memorial Hospital, Newberry, South Carolina. A toxicological examination of the observer was performed by Dr. John Soper of the Federal Aviation Administration Toxicology and Accident Research Laboratory. The toxicology report stated that the observer was free of ethanol and drugs (See attached Record of Conversation With Dr. Soper.) ADDITIONAL INFORMATION The aircraft wreckage was released to the owners insurance representative, Mr. Kevin Twiss, on September 29, 1995. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2160E](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2160E-2017-03-24), registration cancelled 2017-03-24, S/N 44-7995149, built 1978 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-44-180 - Registry model: [Piper PA-44-180](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-44-180) (registry code 7104402) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming O&VO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-vo-360-series) (registry code 41514, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 44-7995149 - Airframe hours: 6758 - Engines: LYCOMING O-360-EIA6D 360 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Matthias Dahlheim - Registered owner: Southeastern Sch. Of Aero. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, September 22, 1995, 14 hours before - Departed: MAC, MACON, GA - Destination: MAC, GA - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: CAE, Columbia Metropolitan, runway 11, 8,602 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 26; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 380 total ## Weather - Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Night/dark - Wind: 250° at 5 knots - Visibility: 3 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 300 ft overcast - Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 68 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: CAE, 1 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 19950927030209A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19950927030209A), Sep 27, 1995: Piper PA44180, Columbia, SC, Destroyed, 2 fatal. Flew into trees short of runway on a IFR ILS approach. Factors night fog and low ceiling. Safety pilot on board. ## Other investigations on N2160E (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 LAX79FVA31](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX79FVA31), May 4, 1979: Piper PA-44 (N2160E), Kernville, CA, substantial damage 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.