ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 220357
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| Date: | Sunday 30 December 2018 |
| Time: | 19:48 |
| Type: |  Piper PA-23 Apache (Sequin Geronimo conv.) |
| Owner/operator: | Private |
| Registration: | N2146P |
| MSN: | 23-748 |
| Year of manufacture: | 1956 |
| Total airframe hrs: | 8809 hours |
| Engine model: | Lycoming O-360-A1D |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 1 / Occupants: 1 |
| Aircraft damage: | Destroyed |
| Category: | Accident |
| Location: | West of Mackinac City and N of Beaver Island Airport (KSJX), Peaine, M -
 United States of America
|
| Phase: | Take off |
| Nature: | Private |
| Departure airport: | Beaver Island, MI (SJX) |
| Charlotte, MI (FPK) | |
| Investigating agency: | NTSB |
| Confidence Rating: |  Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
The instrument, multi-engine rated private pilot was departing into dark night visual meteorological conditions at the time of the accident. The airport was located in an area with minimal ground lighting with no discernable horizon visible after takeoff. Witnesses heard the airplane take off toward the west and subsequently turn to the north. They described the sound of the engines as "very loud." One witness added that the engines seemed to be operating normally. Another witness noted that the sound changed to a lower pitch similar to when a pilot transitions to climb power after takeoff. The sound ended abruptly when the airplane impacted a wooded area about 1/3 mile from the airport on a north-northeasterly heading. Examination of the airframe and engines did not reveal any anomalies consistent with a preimpact failure or malfunction.
It is possible that the pilot experienced some level spatial disorientation which led to a loss of control and impact with the trees and terrain. However, it is also possible that the pilot became distracted configuring the airplane for climb during the initial turn after takeoff which led to the airplane entering an inadvertent descent and controlled flight into terrain. This scenario is consistent with the witness statement noting a transition to climb power immediately after takeoff. In addition, the earwitness reports did not describe a typical loss-of-control event. The lack of a visible horizon due to the dark night lighting conditions and lack of ground lights in the vicinity of the airport would have contributed to either scenario.
Probable Cause: The pilot's failure to maintain a positive rate of climb after takeoff which resulted in an impact with trees and terrain. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's inability to see a visible horizon due to the dark night lighting conditions and limited ground lights in the vicinity of the airport.
Accident investigation:
 |
|
Sources:
NTSB
https://flightaware.com/live/flight/N2146P/history/20181230/2135Z/KFPK/KSJX
FAA register: https://registry.faa.gov/aircraftinquiry/NNum_Results.aspx?NNumbertxt=2146P%20
Location
Media:
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 31-Dec-2018 09:14 | Captain Adam | Added |
| 31-Dec-2018 09:14 | harro | Updated [Date] |
| 31-Dec-2018 16:07 | Geno | Updated [Time, Aircraft type, Registration, Cn, Operator, Location, Source, Narrative] |
| 31-Dec-2018 16:49 | RobertMB | Updated [Narrative] |
| 31-Dec-2018 17:14 | RobertMB | Updated [Narrative] |
| 31-Dec-2018 17:15 | RobertMB | Updated [Narrative] |
| 31-Dec-2018 19:13 | Geno | Updated [Total occupants, Phase, Nature, Departure airport, Source] |
| 01-Jan-2019 15:36 | Aerossurance | Updated [Location, Narrative] |
| 01-Jan-2019 16:36 | RobertMB | Updated [Aircraft type, Registration, Location, Narrative] |
| 01-Jan-2019 16:36 | RobertMB | Updated [Narrative] |
| 05-Jan-2019 19:54 | Iceman 29 | Updated [Departure airport, Source, Embed code] |
| 22-Apr-2020 17:01 | ASN Update Bot | Updated [Time, Operator, Departure airport, Destination airport, Source, Narrative, Accident report, ] |
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