# NTSB BFO92FA088: Piper PA-34-200T, N188AL, Bowling Green, KY, July 6, 1992

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: July 6, 1992, 08:20 local (13:20 UTC)
- Place: Bowling Green, KY
- Coordinates: 37.000598, -86.420608 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.0006&lon=-86.4206&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 3 fatal
- Status: Completed, report June 21, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 11727
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=BFO92FA088
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/11727/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/BFO92FA088

## Probable cause

THE LOSS OF CONTROL IN FLIGHT DUE TO SPATIAL DISORIENTATION/VERTIGO.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - in flight, climb - to cruise
  - spatial disorientation, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF, THE AIRPLANE CRASHED ABOUT .8 MILES EAST FROM THE DEPARTED RUNWAY 21.  THE PILOT REPORTED A CLOUD BASE OF 800 FEET AGL TO THE FAA FLIGHT SERVICE STATION 1 MINUTE AFTER TAKEOFF.  SHORTLY THEREAFTER, WITNESSES STATED THAT THEY HEARD THE AIRPLANE'S ENGINE 'SCREAMING' AND THE AIRPLANE CAME OUT OF THE CLOUDS TOWARDS THE GROUND. WITNESSES STATED THAT THEY SAW THE NOSE OF THE AIRPLANE RISE JUST PRIOR TO IMPACTING THE TREES.  THE ON SCENE INVESTIGATION DID NOT REVEAL ANY AIRPLANE ANOMALIES.  AN ENGINE EXAMINATION WAS ACCOMPLISHED AND NO ANOMALIES WERE NOTED.  THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND AUTO PILOT CONTROLS WERE DESTROYED BY IMPACT FORCES.  THREE GYROS WERE RECOVERED FROM THE WRECKAGE AND EXAMINED.  TWO OF THE THREE GYRO CASINGS EXHIBITED ROTATIONAL SCORING. THE PILOT HAD LOGGED ABOUT 354 HOURS TOTAL FLIGHT TIME.  HE EARNED HIS INSTRUMENT RATING ON MAY 31, 1992.  INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N188AL](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N188AL-1992-11-06), registration cancelled 1992-11-06, S/N 347970121 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-34-200T
- Registry model: [Piper PA-34-200T](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-34-200t) (registry code 7103406) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 34-7970121
- Engines: CONTINENTAL TSIO-360-EB 200 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Alexandria Aviation Inc.
- Registered owner: Alexandria Aviation Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, May 6, 1992
- Departed: BWG
- Destination: CID, CEDAR RAPIDS, IA
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: BWG, Warren County Airport, runway 21, 6,500 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 44; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 354 total, 51 in the last 90 days, 11 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day
- Wind: 360° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 500 ft overcast
- Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 64 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: BWG, 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 19920706023869A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19920706023869A), Jul 6, 1992: Piper PA34200T, Bowling Green, KY, Destroyed, 3 fatal. Indicates low time IFR pilot loss control after entering clouds. On climbout. Observed diving from clouds to impact

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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