MIA00FA118

The flight departed where the airplane was based and flew to Luverne, Alabama, where the pilot twice phoned the Anniston, Alabama, Automated Flight Service Station, and received two abbreviated weather briefings. During the first phone call, the pilot advised the briefing specialist that he was airport hopping. He was advised during the second phone call of widely scattered thunderstorms embedded in rain that existed along his route of flight, and that after 2400Z, the forecast was for the ceilings to improve to 3,500 feet, with occasional IFR conditions with thunderstorms and rain showers for another 1.5 hours. There were no known witnesses who saw the flight depart, and at approximately 1752, the pilot established communications with Jacksonville ARTCC (JAX ARTCC). While in communication with that facility, the pilot advised that he was in between layers and heard communications from a pilot who had executed a missed approach to his destination airport reporting that he encountered heavy rain. The flight continued and air traffic communications were transferred to the Panama City Air Traffic Control Tower (ATCT). The pilot established communications with that facility and advised that the flight was 6 miles northwest of the airport. Radar data indicates that while in contact with that facility and flying over water on a reported dark night, the pilot was advised by the Panama City ATCT controller that the weather conditions were below VFR minimums and what were his intentions. The radar data indicated that the pilot descended an additional 400 feet after being advised of the weather conditions and began a slight left turn. The pilot advised the controller that the flight would proceed northbound; the airplane was lost from radar at 1813:07. The wreckage was located approximately 062 degrees and .4 nautical mile from the last radar target. The wreckage was located in water and recovered for further examination which revealed no evidence of an in-flight breakup and no evidence of preimpact failure or malfunction of the flight controls. Examination of the engine and engine systems revealed no evidence of preimpact failure or malfunction. Examination of the vacuum pump, and several gyroscopic instruments revealed no evidence of preimpact failure or malfunction. No determination was made as to the pilot's instrument currency.

History of flight

On March 26, 2000, about 1813 central standard time, a Piper PA-24-260, N9204P, registered to a private individual, crashed into West Bay approximately 2.5 statute miles west-northwest of the Panama City-Bay County International Airport, Panama City, Florida. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed at the airport at the time of the accident and no flight plan was filed for the 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight. The airplane was destroyed and the private-rated pilot, the sole occupant was fatally injured. The flight last departed from the Frank Sikes Airport, Luverne, Alabama, at an undetermined time.

The flight initially departed with full fuel tanks from the airport where the airplane was based (Walker County-Bevil Field Airport, Jasper, Alabama), and returned two times immediately after takeoff due to a discrepancy related to the landing gear warning system. The landing gear warning system was disconnected by the pilot and the flight departed a third time between 1300 and 1330; after takeoff the pilot reported the flight was departing the traffic pattern to the south.

According to a transcription of communications with the Anniston, Alabama, Automated Flight Service Station (Anniston AFSS), the pilot twice phoned the facility on the day of the accident, the calls were received at 1552:22 and 1637:25 local. The caller advised at the beginning of both phone calls that he was on the ground in Luverne, it was raining, and he intended on flying to Panama City. He asked during both phone calls when the weather would, "blow over" and "blow through", respectively, to which the specialist replied, two or three hours, and one or two hours, respectively. The pilot was asked during the first call whether the flight would proceed under instrument flight rules (IFR), to which he replied, "uh i could but i'm i'm not ifr i was just airport hopping." The pilot was advised that visual flight rules was not recommended and there was adverse weather south of Luverne, and also west of his location, moving his way. The pilot closed the first phone call by stating, "uh huh okay well i may have to concoct an ifr flight plan and call you back then alright thank you." During the second phone call, the pilot was advised thunderstorms were expected along the route of flight. The pilot reported the airplane was not equipped with a stormscope, the AWOS at Panama City was indicating the ceiling was 1,400 feet, and if he could just get there, "...it sounds like it's pretty much okay." The pilot was advised of widely scattered thunderstorms embedded in rain that existed along his route, and most of the thunderstorms were west, north, or east of Panama City. After 1800 local in Panama City, the forecast was for the ceilings to improve to 3,500 feet with occasional IFR conditions with thunderstorms and rain showers for another 1.5 hours at Panama City. The pilot advised he would call back, "...in an hour or so", to which the briefing specialist advised him to request a standard weather briefing when he did call back. There was no further record of the pilot obtaining an additional preflight weather briefing.

There were no known witnesses who saw the flight depart from the Frank Sikes Airport, located in Luverne, Alabama. According to a transcription of communications with the Jacksonville Air Route Traffic Control Center (JAX ARTCC), at 1752:19, the pilot contacted the facility and advised the controller that the flight was, "...just off geneva like vfr to uh panama city." The pilot was provided with a discrete transponder code and the airplane was radar identified. The flight continued and at 1759:38, the controller broadcast on the frequency advising of convective sigmet 38E which was available on hiwas flight watch or flight service. The pilot was provided a vector for weather avoidance and at 1801:55, the pilot requested a lower altitude to avoid clouds. The controller responded by advising the pilot in part to maintain vfr. At 1806:36, the controller advised the pilot in part, "...be advised they are advertising the vor runway three two approach there at panama city do you think you're still gonna be able to get the airport in sight." The pilot advised the controller that the flight was between layers with the lower layer, "...barely broken." At 1807:15, the JAX ARTCC controller communicated with the Panama City Air Traffic Control Tower (KPFN ATCT) controller and advised of handling a vfr target and questioned whether the airplane would be able to land under visual flight rules. The KPFN ATCT controller advised the JAX ARTCC controller that the ceiling was at 1,400 feet and, "...if he can get down below that he should be able to make it." At 1809:42, the pilot of another airplane who had just performed a missed instrument approach to the KPFN airport advised on the frequency of encountering heavy rain during the approach. The controller questioned the accident pilot if he heard the report from the other pilot and he reported that he had. He also reported, "...i've got good ground visibility now uh i think i'll just run right over the airport and i should see it." The JAX ARTCC controller terminated radar services at 1810:44; air traffic control communications were transferred to KPFN ATCT.

According to a transcription of communications with the KPFN ATCT, the pilot established contact with that facility at 1811:08, and advised that the flight was 6 miles northwest of the airport, inbound for landing. The controller advised the pilot to enter a left downwind for runway 32, and at 1812:07, advised the pilot, "and uh zero two papa panama city weather is currently below basic vfr minimums say intentions." The pilot responded, "uh zero four pop zero four papa i guess i should turn around and go north." The pilot replied when asked that he did not have the airport in sight. The controller advised the pilot to maintain vfr, and if he elected to proceed northbound to contact JAX ARTCC. At 1812;43, the pilot advised the KPFN ATCT controller that the flight was, "...turning northbound", there was no further contact with the KPFN ATCT. The pilot reestablished communications with the JAX ARTCC at 1813:03, advising, "uh nine two zero four papa but i did not have it in sight and i'm turning north." There was no further contact with the JAX ARTCC, and there were no known eyewitnesses to the accident.

According to an individual who lives approximately 4 nautical miles north-northeast of the accident site, on the day of the accident about 1830, he was at his house under the porch because of bad weather that consisted of pouring down rain. He heard a noise and commented to his wife, "that somebody was flying in pretty crappy weather." He felt confident the sound he heard was associated with a single engine airplane. He did not observe it and reported it was dark outside. The engine sounded fine at what he thought was midpower setting, and, "it wasn't missing a beat." He could not determine the route of flight and thought that the airplane was no higher than 400 to 500 feet. A record of conversation with the individual is an attachment to this report.

Review of a National Track Analysis Program (NTAP) from the Jacksonville ARTCC revealed that between 1808:07, and 1813:07 (last radar return), the airplane descended from 2,000 feet mean sea level (msl) to 800 feet msl, while on a south-southeast heading. Between the time of the first communication with the KPFN ATCT (1811:08), and the last radar return (1813:07), the airplane descended from 1,100 to 800 feet msl. The radar data indicates the airplane descended an additional 400 feet after the pilot was advised by the KPFN ATCT controller that the weather conditions were below VFR weather minimums and the last radar return. Plotting of the radar returns on a map revealed that between 1810:55, and the last radar return, the airplane was flying over water of West