# NTSB ERA25LA130: Piper PA-28-235, N43DN, Manchester, VT, February 26, 2025 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: February 26, 2025, 08:30 local (13:30 UTC) - Place: Manchester, VT · 2300 up the side of a mountain - Coordinates: 43.16949, -73.106384 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.1695&lon=-73.1064&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute: VFR encounter with IMC](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/401) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 2 serious, 1 minor - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 199769 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA25LA130 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/199769/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=199769 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA25LA130 ## Probable cause The pilot’s improper decision to continue the visual flight rules flight into instrument meteorological conditions, which resulted in the accumulation of airframe icing and a subsequent aerodynamic stall/spin. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-235, 16 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=7102810), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md) - [Ceiling/visibility/precip: below VFR minima](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03035075): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Decision related to condition (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-235, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03035075/cases.md?model=7102810), [All aircraft, 184 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03035075/cases.md) - [Temp/humidity/pressure: conducive to structural icing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031025): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Awareness of condition; cases with it: [Piper PA-28-235, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031025/cases.md?model=7102810), [All aircraft, 103 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031025/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute: VFR encounter with IMC](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/401) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-235, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/401/sequence.md?model=7102810), [All aircraft, 392 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/401/sequence.md) - [Enroute: Structural icing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/210); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-235, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/210/sequence.md?model=7102810), [All aircraft, 102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/210/sequence.md) - [Enroute: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-235, 35 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=7102810), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) - [Enroute: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-235, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md?model=7102810), [All aircraft, 1,529 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md) ## Analysis The private pilot, who did not hold an instrument rating, reported that while enroute on the cross-country flight under visual flight rules (VFR), he altered his course around building clouds. He continued to monitor the weather conditions at local airports along the planned route and was aware that they were near the VFR minimums, but he elected to continue the flight. While approaching a valley, the pilot stated that he saw a break in the clouds, so he attempted to descend to get below the cloud level. Shortly after, the pilot noticed that the weather was changing rapidly and felt that attempting to remain under the clouds would not be “legal nor safe” and he began to climb. During the climb, the airplane entered clouds, and the pilot immediately noticed water droplets forming on the airplane and freezing. The pilot applied carburetor heat and felt an associated decrease in power as he continued with the climb. While attempting to maneuver out of the clouds, the pilot-rated passenger noted that the airspeed was decreasing, and that the ice accumulating on the airframe was increasing. Shortly after, the airplane encountered an aerodynamic stall. The pilot was able to gain enough airspeed to recover, but when the pilot then attempted to climb again, and the airplane stalled for a second time. The airplane eventually entered a spin that the pilot was able to recover from. At this point, the pilot noticed trees and a “cliff” that he was attempting to direct the airplane away from, but the airspeed was decreasing. The pilot then attempted to hold the airplane away from stalling as long as possible to force a landing through trees. The airplane subsequently stalled and collided with a series of trees. The airplane’s wings separated from the fuselage during the impact sequence and the fuselage came to rest on the side of a mountain in about 4 ft of snow. The pilot and both passengers incurred minor injuries and the airplane was substantially damaged during the impact. The pilot stated that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N43DN](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N43DN), registered now, S/N 28-7310036, built 1972 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28-235 - Registry model: [Piper PA-28-235](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-235) (registry code 7102810) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-540-series) (registry code 41532, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 28-7310036 - Year built: 1972 - Engines: LYCOMING O-540-B4B5 250 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: MTN, Baltimore, MD - Destination: RUT, Rutland, VT - Equipment: Stall warning system, ADS-B, Auto-pilot, Electronic primary flight display, Onboard weather ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 54; injuries: serious; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review May 14, 2024; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 372.3 total, 64.7 in this make and model, 270.7 as pilot in command, 5.4 in the last 90 days, 1.9 in the last 30 days - Student pilot; age 23; injuries: serious; student; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; seat: right; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 45 total, 0 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day - Visibility: 7 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 1,100 ft overcast - Temperature: 37 °F, dew point 34 °F - Altimeter: 29.80 inHg - Icing: Clear - Observed at: DDH, 18 nm away - METAR: KDDH 261343Z AUTO VRB05KT 7SM OVC011 03/01 A2980 RMK AO2 T00330006 ## 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 20250226002119A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20250226002119A), Feb 26, 2025: Piper PA-28-235, Manchester, VT, Destroyed. On 2/26/2025 a Piper PA28 single engine airplane was destroyed after impacting terrain in the area of Manchester, VT. The pilot sustained a serious injury and… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 9, 2025, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=199769. 20.0 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 14 pages, 18.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18471662&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ERA25LA130%20Pilot%206120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Memorandum for the record a�� telephone interview, pilot rated passenger (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 72 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18472545&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ERA25LA130%20Josiah%20Statement_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Memorandum for the record - telephone interview, rear seat passenger (item 3, PDF, 2 pages, 67 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18471753&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ERA25LA130%20Cheyenne%20Statement-Rel.pdf - Investigation photos (item 4, PDF, 4 pages, 1.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18472555&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ERA25LA130%20Photo%20Array-Rel.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.