- Date
- September 22, 1990, 13:35 local (17:35 UTC)
- Place
- Berlin, VT
- Injuries
- 4 fatal
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Aircraft
- CFSKOPiper PA-30
- Weather
- Instrument (IMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report September 17, 1992
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Case key
- 36550
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 continued VFR flight into instrument meteorological conditions (IMC), and his failure to maintain aircraft control after becoming spatially disoriented. Factors related to the accident were: the adverse weather conditions, and the pilot's lack of instrument 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
The aircraft departed halifax for burlington, loaded about 400 lbs above its maximum certificated gross weight. However, the en route fuel burn-off had reduced its weight within limits. After the flight reached the montpelier area, the weather deteriorated to IFR conditions. The non-instrument rated pilot indicated that he had flown into clouds several times and was able to return to VFR conditions. However, just before it crashed, the aircraft was observed to spin out of low clouds. The autopilot roll axis was found on, the pitch axis was off and the elevator was trimmed to a near full nose down position.
Aircraft
- Registration
- CFSKO
- Reported as
- Piper PA-30
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 30813
- Engine
- Lycoming IO-320-B, 160 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Ken D. Jones
- Departed
- YHZ · Halifax
- Destination
- BTV · Burlington, VT
- Flight plan
- VFR
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 48
- Certificates
- Private, Foreign
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Toxicology
- Performed
- Flight hours
- 640 total · 107 in this make and model · 581 as pilot in command · 47 in the last 90 days · 19 in the last 30 days · 3 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Instrument (IMC) · Day
- Wind
- 150° at 7 knots
- Visibility
- 3 statute miles
- Temperature
- -0 °F, dew point -0 °F
- Observed at
- MPV, 8 nm away