# NTSB CEN16LA055: Piper PA 28-181, N47480, Pontiac, MI, December 6, 2015 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: December 5, 2015, 19:30 local (Dec 6, 2015, 00:30 UTC) - Place: Pontiac, MI - Coordinates: 42.664722, -83.434997 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.6647&lon=-83.4350&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach-IFR final approach: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 2 minor - Status: Completed, report August 16, 2016 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 92406 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN16LA055 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/92406/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=92406 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN16LA055 ## Probable cause The pilot’s operation of the airplane below the glideslope and off course during a night, instrument approach, which resulted in a collision with trees and terrain. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041000): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-181, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041000/cases.md?model=7102807), [All aircraft, 111 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041000/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Approach-IFR final approach: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-181, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md?model=7102807), [All aircraft, 1,309 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md) ## Analysis The private certificated pilot and pilot-rated passenger planned on conducting some practice instrument approaches. After conducting a practice approach and landing at a different airport, they departed for the flight back to the departure airport. Night instrument meteorological conditions existed, and the pilot expected to conduct an instrument approach. The tower controller cleared the airplane for the instrument approach to the runway. The pilot reported that the airplane was set up and configured for the approach and that, initially, the airplane was established on the localizer and glideslope; however, it then drifted off course. The pilot-rated passenger reported that he was looking outside the airplane as they passed the final approach fix. When he looked back inside at the instruments, he told the pilot that he was low and left of course. Subsequently, the airplane impacted trees and terrain and then came to rest in an open field. The accident is consistent with controlled flight into terrain due to the pilot flying the airplane below the glideslope and off course during an instrument approach. ## Factual narrative On December 5, 2015, about 1930 eastern standard time, a Piper PA-28-181 airplane, N47480, impacted terrain during an approach to runway 9R at the Oakland County International Airport (KPTK), Pontiac, Michigan. The private rated pilot and pilot rated passenger received minor injuries, and the airplane was substantially damaged. The airplane was registered to and operated by IXI LLC, West Bloomfield, Michigan, under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Night instrument meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The pilot and pilot rated passenger planned on each taking a turn at practicing instrument approaches. The pilot had an instrument rating, while the pilot rated passenger, was working on obtaining the instrument rating. With the pilot rated passenger at the controls, they departed KPTK and performed a practice instrument approach at an en route airport. They continued the flight to the Abrams Municipal airport (4D0), where they conducted another practice approach and then landed. Once on the ground at 4D0, they swapped seating locations, with the pilot rated passenger sitting in the right seat, and the accident pilot in the left seat. They then departed 4D0 and returned to PTK. As they approached PTK, they pickup up an instrument flight plan and due to low visibility and ceiling, expected to perform an approach in actual instrument conditions into PTK. The pilot reported that the PTK tower controller cleared them for the instrument approach for runway 9R. He added that the airplane was properly setup and configured for the approach. Initially, the airplane was established on the localizer and glideslope, but then drifted off course. The pilot rated passenger reported that during the approach, he was concerned with ice on the wings and was looking outside as they passed the final approach fix. When he looked back at the instruments, he told the pilot that he was low and left of course. A moment later, the airplane impacted terrain. A review of radar data revealed the airplane initially intercepted the extended centerline of 9R. The flight reached the final approach fix at 3,000 ft, continued inbound and descended in altitude; the track wondered slightly right of course a couple times before deviating left of course. The responding Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector reported that the airplane's right wing had impacted trees short of the airport. The wreckage path continued for about 580 feet, before the airplane came to rest on its right side in an open field. The airplane's left and right wings had separated from the fuselage. The fuselage and engine had heavy impact damage as a result of the collision with the trees and terrain. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N47480](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N47480-2018-04-12), registration cancelled 2018-04-12, S/N 28-7890078, built 1977 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA 28-181 - Registry model: [Piper PA-28-181](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-181) (registry code 7102807) (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: 28-7890078 - Year built: 1977 - Airframe hours: 10721.7 - Engines: LYCOMING O-360 SER 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Ixi LLC - Registered owner: Ixi LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, November 5, 2015 - Departed: 4D0, Grand Ledge, MI - Destination: KPTK, Pontiac, MI - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: KPTK, Oakland County Intl, runway 09, 6,520 × 150 ft ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 65; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 364.7 total, 221.8 in this make and model, 251 as pilot in command, 9.3 in the last 90 days, 3.5 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Night - Wind: 150° at 5 knots - Visibility: 0.75 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 200 ft overcast - Temperature: 30 °F, dew point 28 °F - Altimeter: 30.59 inHg - Observed at: KPTK ## Other investigations on N47480 (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 NYC07CA067](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC07CA067), Feb 17, 2007: Piper PA-28-181 (N47480), Millbrook, NY, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain a proper glidepath to the runway. ## Docket (9 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 21, 2016, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=92406. 9.2 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 905 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40437859&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Pilot Rated Passenger Statement (item 2, .PDF, 100 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40437860&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%20Rated%20Passenger%20Statement-Master.PDF - FAA Interviews (item 3, .PDF, 985 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40437861&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Interviews-Master.PDF - Site Overview (item 4, .PDF, 839 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40437862&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Site%20Overview-Master.PDF - Photos (FAA on site photos) (item 5, .PDF, 46 photos, 5.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40437863&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photos%20(FAA%20on%20site%20photos)-Master.PDF - 09R Instrument Approach (item 6, .PDF, 251 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40437864&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=09R%20Instrument%20Approach-Master.PDF - Radar Track (item 7, .PDF, 337 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40437865&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Radar%20Track-Master.PDF - Weather Reports and Records (item 8, .PDF, 42 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40437866&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Reports%20and%20Records-Master.PDF - Release of Aircraft Wreckage, NTSB Form 6120.15 (item 9, .PDF, 78 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40437867&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Release%20of%20Aircraft%20Wreckage,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.15-Master.PDF 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.