- Date
- April 17, 1990, 09:09 local (14:09 UTC)
- Place
- Mansfield, AR
- Injuries
- 2 fatal
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Aircraft
- N2208NPiper PA32RT-300
- Weather
- Instrument (IMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report October 2, 1992
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19900417010009A
- Case key
- 34882
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The non-instrument rated pilot's decision to continue VFR flight into IMC. Contributing to the accident were the low ceilings, rain, and turbulence encountered at low altitude, and the pilot's lack of instrument training/experience.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
Before takeoff, the non-instrument rated pilot was briefed by the weather service office for a VFR, no-flight-plan flight. In flight, the pilot received a briefing from an afss and was told that VFR flight was not recommended. Pilot informed center that he was climbing to 7,000 feet to stay on top. When he was approaching his destination, he informed approach control that he was on top of an overcast and was trying to find a place to get down. After radio and radar contact was lost with this airplane. Another approach controller observed a slow moving primary radar target south of the destination airport, but after it was lost, he was unable to determine its last known location, or its identity. Airplane was in near level attitude at tree impact, then near 60 degree down path to terrain. Damage to trees, and propeller indicate engine power being developed at impact. Wx in area not known. Wx study shows forecast of heavy rain, reduced visibilities, moderate turbulence below clouds.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N2208N
- Reported as
- Piper PA32RT-300
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 32R-7985073
- Airframe hours
- 867
- Engine
- Lycoming IO-540-K1G5D, 300 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Business · Part 91
- Operator
- Joe A. Hayes
- Registered owner
- Roy E. Hayes
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · April 10, 1990 · 3 hours before
- Departed
- BPT · Beaumont, TX
- Destination
- FSM · Ft. Smith, AR
- Airport
- NONE
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 58
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Toxicology
- Performed
- Flight hours
- 3,200 total · 10 in the last 90 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Instrument (IMC) · Day
- Wind
- 30° at 13 knots, gusting 21
- Visibility
- 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 3,300 ft overcast
- Temperature
- 50 °F, dew point 48 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- FSM, 24 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.