NYC97FA080

During arrival at night, the flight was being controlled by a developmental controller (DC), who was being supervised by an instructor (IC). The pilot (plt) was instructed to descend & cross the STILL Intersection (Int) at 3,000 ft. STILL Int was aligned with the localizer (loc) approach (apch) course, 10.1 mi from the apch end of runway 17 (rwy 17); the final apch fix (FAF) was 3.9 mi from the rwy. About 5 mi before reaching STILL Int, while on course & level at 3,000 ft, the plt was cleared for a Loc Rwy 17 Apch. Radar data showed the aircraft (acft) continued to STILL Int, then it turned onto the loc course toward the FAF. Shortly after departing STILL Int, while inbound on the loc course, the acft began a descent. Before the acft reached the FAF, the DC issued a frequency change to go to UNICOM. During this transmission, the IC noticed a low altitude alert on the radar display, then issued a verbal low altitude alert, saying, 'check altitude, you should be at 1,500 ft (should have said '1,800 ft' as that was the minimum crossing altitude at the FAF), altitude's indicating 1,200, low altitude alert.' There was no response from the plt. This occurred about 2 mi before the FAF. Minimum descent altitude (MDA) for the apch was 720 ft. The acft struck tree tops at 750 ft, about 1/2 mi before the FAF. The IC's remark 'you should be at 1,500 ft' was based on an expired apch plate with a lower FAF minimum crossing altitude; the current minimum crossing altitude at the FAF was 1,800 ft. Apch control management had not made the current plate available to the controllers. Investigation could not determine whether a current apch plate would have prompted an earlier warning by the controllers.

History of flight

On April 27, 1997, at 2052 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-60-601P, N885JC, was destroyed when it collided with trees in Waterford, Virginia, during an instrument approach to the Leesburg Municipal Airport, Leesburg, Virginia. The certificated private pilot/owner of the airplane and passenger were fatally injured. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed for the personal flight that originated at Allentown, Pennsylvania, about 1952. An instrument flight rules (IFR) flight plan had been filed for the flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91.

According to air traffic control records, the pilot had filed an IFR flight plan from the Lehigh Valley International Airport (ABE), Allentown, to the Leesburg Municipal Airport (JYO). After takeoff, the airplane climbed to 6,000 feet above mean sea level (MSL), and flew an uneventful flight towards JYO. When the pilot contacted Dulles Approach Control, he was cleared direct to the STILL intersection, and then cleared for the Localizer Runway 17 approach to JYO. The STILL intersection was on the localizer final approach course, 10.1 miles from the approach end of runway 17. The final approach fix, WARDE, was also an intersection on the localizer final approach course, 3.9 miles from the approach end of runway 17.

At 2044, the Dulles controller informed the pilot that he was 5 miles from STILL, and to "cross STILL at three thousand, cleared ILS, correction, cleared localizer runway one seven approach at Leesburg." The clearance was acknowledged by the pilot. At 2049:01, the controller issued the pilot a frequency change to the JYO UNICOM, which the pilot acknowledged at 2049:06. At 2049:08, the Dulles controller stated, "November five Juliet Charlie, check altitude, you should be at one thousand five hundred, altitudes indicating one thousand two hundred, low altitude alert." There was no response from the pilot.

Witnesses near the accident site reported hearing an airplane fly over "low and loud." They also reported that the immediate terrain was obscured by fog.

The airplane struck tree tops in the vicinity of the localizer center line, at an approximate elevation of 750 feet MSL, and came to rest about 4.5 miles from the approach end of runway 17.

The accident occurred during the hours of darkness approximately 39 degrees, 9 minutes north latitude, and 77 degrees, 35 minutes west longitude.

Personnel information

The pilot held a private pilot certificate with ratings for airplane single and multiengine land, and instrument airplane. His most recent Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Second Class Medical Certificate was issued on June 30, 1995.

The pilot's log books were located; however, the last entry was dated December 10, 1996. The pilot's total flight experience was estimated to be about 1,600 hours, of which approximately 525 hours were in make and model. Recent night and instrument experience could not be determined.

Meteorological information

Weather reported at the Leesburg Municipal Airport (JYO), at 2040, included winds from 140 degrees at 6 knots, visibility of 4 miles, and scattered clouds at 600 feet, scattered clouds at 1,200 feet, and overcast clouds at 3,400 feet.

Weather reported at the Dulles Airport (IAD), at 2051, included winds variable at 5 knots, visibility of 2 1/2 miles with light rain, and few clouds at 1,200 feet, scattered clouds at 1,700 feet, and overcast clouds at 3,100 feet.

Wreckage and impact information

The wreckage was examined at the accident site on April 28 and 29, 1997. The examination revealed that all major components of the airplane were accounted for at the scene. The airplane came to rest on an approximate magnetic heading of 240 degrees, at a ground elevation of about 600 feet above mean sea level (MSL).

Initial tree impact scars began about 915 feet north of the main wreckage. The tree tops were about 75 feet high, and the ground elevation was 675 feet MSL. Numerous broken tree branches, 1 to 3 inches in diameter, were located on the ground at the base of the trees. Tree impact scars continued along the tops of the trees for about 210 feet, until the tree line ended. At the end of the tree line were several tree limbs on the ground, about 6 to 8 inches in diameter, and several feet long. The swath path through the tree indicated a general magnetic direction of 170 degrees. The right wing tip, and a gear door that contained imbedded wood, were on the ground at the end of the tree line. About 300 feet from the tree line, in the direction of the main wreckage, was a section of the right wing. Scattered between the tree line and the main wreckage were several tree limbs, with ends cut at 45 degree angles. An impact hole was about 555 feet from the tree line, and the main wreckage was about 150 feet beyond the impact hole. The general direction of the scattered debris to the main wreckage continued to be 170 degrees magnetic.

The left engine was separated from the fuselage and wing section, and located about 30 feet northeast of the main wreckage. The engine's spark plugs were clean and light gray in color. The fuel servo contained fuel, and the fuel screen was absent of debris. The fuel pump contained fuel and provided pressure when rotated by hand. The vacuum pump and turbo charger wheels rotated freely. The left and right magnetos were rotated by hand and produced spark at all towers. The oil filter was cut open, and was absent of debris, as was the oil sump screen. The propeller governor had separated from the engine, and rotated freely. The propeller governor oil screen was absent of debris. The engine was rotated by hand, and thumb compression was obtained on all cylinders. Additionally, valve train continuity and accessory gear rotation were confirmed.

The left engine propeller hub was separated from the engine and located about 130 feet north of the main wreckage. Two of the three propeller blades were curved backwards. The leading edges of all three blades contained nicks and chordwise scratches. The tips of two of the blades were nicked and bent.

The right engine was separated from the fuselage and wing, and located about 30 feet north of the main wreckage. The engine was upside down and the six lower spark plugs, that had been on top, were clean and light gray in color. The fuel servo contained fuel, and the fuel screen was absent of debris. The fuel pump contained fuel and provided pressure when rotated by hand. The vacuum pump and turbo charger wheels rotated freely. The left and right magnetos were rotated by hand and produced spark at all towers. The oil filter was cut open and was absent of debris, as was the oil sump screen. The propeller governor remained attached to the engine, and when removed, rotated freely. The propeller governor oil screen was absent of debris. The engine was rotated by hand, and thumb compression was obtained on all cylinders. Additionally, valve train continuity and accessory gear rotation were confirmed.

The right engine propeller hub remained attached to the engine. All three propeller blades remained attached to the hub, but could be rotated inside of the hub by hand. One propeller blade was bent in an "S" shape with chord wise scratches. A second blade was slightly curved and missing 2 inches of the blade tip. The third blade contained leading edge nicks and chord wise scratches.

The landing gear remained attached to the fuselage and was extended. The flaps were in the vicinity of the approach position. The instrument and radio light rheostats were half way on. Control continuity was established from the elevator and rudder, to the center of the cabin fuselage, where the cabin floor was compressed to the outer fuselage skin. The cabin pressure altitude selector was set to 1,200 feet, and the cabin vertical speed indicator was indicating down, 500 feet pe