CHI04FA043

The airplane was destroyed when it impacted trees and terrain following an in-flight loss of control during climb after takeoff. Meteorological information indicates that the cloud ceilings were between 1,200 and 1,700 feet above ground level at the time of the accident. While airborne, the accident pilot reported to another pilot that the cloud ceiling was 1,500 feet. Radar data shows that the airplane flight profile became erratic once it had climbed above about 1,700 feet pressure altitude. The final flight path sequence depicted by the radar data shows a right-hand turn of decreasing radius with an associated rapid rate of descent. The last radar return coincided with the accident location. The non-instrument rated pilot had logged 7.0 hours of simulated instrument experience. The pilot had logged 35.8 hours in the same make and model as the accident airplane, of which, all but 0.3 hours was listed as cross-country time. No records of training in the same make and model airplane were discovered. No pre-impact mechanical deficiencies were found during the post-accident examination of the wreckage.

History of flight

On December 17, 2003, at 0933 eastern standard time (EST), a Piper PA46-500TP, N155BM, was destroyed when it impacted trees and terrain near Daytona Beach, Florida. The 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight was operating in marginal visual meteorological conditions and was not on a flight plan. The non-instrument rated private pilot and his one passenger were fatally injured. The flight had originated from the Spruce Creek Airport (7FL6), Daytona Beach, Florida, about 0928, and was en route to Nacogdoches, Texas.

Personnel information

The pilot held a private pilot certificate with ratings for single and multi-engine land airplanes. The pilot did not have an instrument rating. A review of the pilot's logbook revealed that the pilot had about 1,914 hours of total flight experience. The logbook listed 7.0 total hours of simulated instrument flight training and 35.8 hours in PA46-500 aircraft. Of the time logged in PA46-500 aircraft, 35.5 hours of the time logged was listed as cross-country flight time. There were no records of any flight training in PA46 or PA46-500 aircraft. The pilot's first logged flight in the PA46-500, N61PK, was on May 16, 2003. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) records show that the accident airplane was previously registered as N61PK.

The pilot held a third class medical certificate issued on November 11, 2002. The medical certificate stated that the pilot must wear corrective lenses for near vision while flying.

Aircraft information

The airplane was a Piper PA46-500TP monoplane of aluminum construction. A Pratt and Whitney Canada model PT6A-42A turbine engine rated at 500 shaft horsepower powered the airplane. The pressurized airplane had accommodations for six passengers including the flight crew.

The airplane, originally registered as N61PK, was involved in a previous landing accident that occurred on the delivery flight when being flown from the factory after initial purchase. In that accident, aircraft ran off of the runway on landing and did extensive damage to the aircraft, including damage to the underside of the fuselage that resulted in holes in the pressure vessel. Although considered a total loss by the aircraft manufacturer, the accident pilot purchased the damaged aircraft from the previous owner. The accident pilot contracted with a company in Texas to have the aircraft repaired. The aircraft underwent an extensive repair including placing doublers over several fuselage formers and replacement of bottom and side fuselage skins. Both aircraft wings were removed and extensive sheet metal repairs performed. The engine and propeller were repaired and the aircraft was given an annual inspection on April 2, 2003 at 30.0 hours total airframe time. FAA Form 337 entitled "Major Repair and Alteration" was submitted to the FAA on April 10, 2003.

An FAA Designated Engineering Representative who determined that the repairs were adequate approved the repairs on May 30, 2003 by issuance of FAA Form 8110-3 entitled "Statement of Compliance with the Federal Aviation Regulations".

Meteorological information.

A NTSB Meteorologist prepared a Meteorological Factual Report regarding the weather conditions in the vicinity of the accident. The full report is included in the public docket material associated with this accident.

A National Weather Service (NWS) Surface Analysis Chart for 1000 depicted a cold front that extended southward across North Carolina into the Atlantic Ocean and across central and southern Florida into the Gulf of Mexico. The cold front was south of the accident location.

A NWS Weather Depiction Chart for 0800 depicted several areas of instrument flight rule (IFR) conditions across central and northern Florida, with broken or overcast clouds less than 1,000 feet above ground level (agl), and/or visibilities less than 3 statute miles. The chart also depicted a larger area of marginal visual flight rule (MVFR) conditions, with ceilings between 1,000 and 3,000 feet above ground level, and/or visibility between 3 and 5 statute miles. The accident site was within the area depicted on the chart as MVFR.

The following surface observations were recorded at airports near the accident site:

Daytona Beach International Airport (DAB), located about 9 miles east of the accident site, recorded the weather conditions at 0753 as: Wind from 240 degrees at 10 knots; Visibility 8 statute miles; Sky condition few clouds at 500 feet AGL, scattered clouds at 6,000 feet AGL; Temperature 20 degrees Celsius (C); Dew point 18 degrees C; Altimeter setting 29.91 inches of Mercury (Hg).

The DAB recorded weather conditions at 0853 were: Wind from 260 degrees at 19 knots gusting to 24 knots; Visibility 10 statute miles; Sky condition scattered clouds at 1,900 feet AGL, ceiling broken at 2,400 feet AGL, broken at 8,500 feet AGL; Temperature 20 degrees C; Dew point 17 degrees C; Altimeter setting 29.93 inches of Hg.

The DAB recorded weather conditions at 0953 were: Wind from 270 degrees at 16 knots gusting to 27 knots; Visibility 10 statute miles; Sky condition ceiling broken at 1,700 feet AGL, overcast at 2,500 feet AGL; Temperature 17 degrees C; Dew point 14 degrees C; Altimeter setting 29.97 inches of Mercury (Hg).

Orlando Sanford International Airport (SFD), located about 21 miles south-southwest of the accident site, recorded the weather conditions at 0853 as: Wind from 280 degrees at 24 knots gusting to 28 knots; Visibility 10 statute miles; Sky condition scattered clouds at 1,200 feet AGL, ceiling broken at 1,800 feet AGL; Temperature 19 degrees C; Dew point 17 degrees C; Altimeter setting 29.93 inches of Hg.

The SFD recorded weather conditions at 0945 were: Wind from 280 degrees at 27 knots gusting to 33 knots; Visibility 10 statute miles; Sky condition ceiling overcast at 1,400 feet AGL, broken at 8,500 feet AGL; Temperature 16 degrees C; Dew point 14 degrees C; Altimeter setting 29.98 inches of Hg.

The SFD recorded weather conditions at 0953 were: Wind from 270 degrees at 21 knots gusting to 29 knots; Visibility 10 statute miles; Sky condition ceiling broken at 1,400 feet AGL, broken at 2,500 feet AGL, overcast at 3,800 feet AGL; Temperature 16 degrees C; Dew point 13 degrees C; Altimeter setting 29.98 inches of Hg.

Orlando Executive Airport (ORL), located about 36 miles west of the accident site, recorded the weather conditions at 0853 as: Wind from 270 degrees at 19 knots gusting to 25 knots; Visibility 9 statute miles; Sky condition ceiling broken at 1,800 feet AGL; Temperature 20 degrees C; Dew point 17 degrees C; Altimeter setting 29.95 inches of Hg.

The ORL recorded weather conditions at 0939 were: Wind from 280 degrees at 25 knots gusting to 32 knots; Visibility 8 statute miles; Sky condition scattered clouds at 1,000 feet AGL, ceiling overcast at 1,400 feet AGL; Temperature 16 degrees C; Dew point 14 degrees C; Altimeter setting 30.00 inches of Hg.

The ORL recorded weather conditions at 0953 were: Wind from 280 degrees at 19 knots gusting to 32 knots; Visibility 6 statute miles; Sky condition ceiling overcast at 1,200 feet AGL; Temperature 15 degrees C; Dew point 13 degrees C; Altimeter setting 30.02 inches of Hg.

St. Augustine Airport (SGJ), located about 50 miles north of the accident site, recorded the weather conditions at 0835 as: Wind from 250 degrees at 12 knots gusting to 18 knots; Visibility 7 statute miles; Sky condition scattered clouds at 1,400 feet AGL, ceiling broken at 2,200 feet AGL, overcast at 3,600 feet; Temperature 18 degrees C; Dew point 16 degrees C; Altimeter setting 29.89 inches of Hg.

The SGJ recorded weather conditions at 0935 were: Wind from 290 degrees at 15 knots gusting to 21 knots; Visibility 10 statute miles; Sky condition ceiling broken at 1,200 feet AGL, overcast at 3,000 feet AGL; Temperature 14 degrees C; Dew point 12 degrees C; Altimeter setting 29.95 inches of Hg.

The SGJ reco