ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 237450
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| Date: | Saturday 27 June 2020 |
| Time: | 01:53 |
| Type: |  Piper PA-32R-301T Saratoga II TC |
| Owner/operator: | Private |
| Registration: | N315AM |
| MSN: | 3257439 |
| Year of manufacture: | 2006 |
| Total airframe hrs: | 1584 hours |
| Engine model: | Lycoming TIO-540-AH1A |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 1 / Occupants: 1 |
| Aircraft damage: | Destroyed |
| Category: | Accident |
| Location: | Zavalla, TX -
 United States of America
|
| Phase: | Approach |
| Nature: | Private |
| Departure airport: | Houston-David Wayne Hooks Airport, TX (DWH/KDWH) |
| Zavalla, TX (PRIV) | |
| Investigating agency: | NTSB |
| Confidence Rating: |  Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
The noncertificated pilot made a night flight to an unlit airstrip. Upon arrival, with a low overcast ceiling, the pilot circled the airstrip for the next 54 minutes at altitudes ranging from about 300 to 1,350 ft above ground level. During the approach attempts, the pilot descended below the cloud layer, executed a go around, and maneuvered for another approach. On the pilot’s final approach attempt, the airplane impacted a tree line prior to the runway threshold on a heading perpendicular to the runway.
Examination revealed no evidence of mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. Toxicology testing showed the pilot had methamphetamine, amphetamine, and THC (the primary psychoactive chemical in cannabis) in his system. The pilot’s methamphetamine levels did not indicate if he was experiencing drug effects, and the investigation was not able to determine if the pilot had an underlying condition being treated with amphetamine or methamphetamine. It was not determined if the pilot was under impairment from THC.
According to a family member, the pilot normally flew to the unlit airstrip at night and descended in a circular pattern until he visually identified the runway. Although the pilot’s substance use had significant potential to cause impairment, the investigation determined the pilot’s aircraft handling was not deficient relative to his limited experience of flying in night instrument conditions and the prolonged period of approach attempts. The pilot’s decision to continue the night approaches during instrument conditions was consistent with a pattern of poor decision-making and risk-taking behavior.
Probable Cause: The non-certificated pilot’s poor decision-making as he attempted to land at an unlit airstrip in night instrument conditions, which resulted in the airplane’s collision with terrain short of the runway.
Accident investigation:
 |
|
Sources:
https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.kltv.com/2020/06/27/dps-pilot-dies-after-single-engine-plane-crashes-private-airstrip-near-zavalla/%3foutputType=amp
NTSB
FAA
https://flightaware.com/resources/registration/N315AM
Location
Images:
Photos: NTSB
Media:
The NTSB is investigating the crash Saturday of a Piper PA-32 airplane in Zavalla, Texas. The NTSB is not traveling to the crash scene at this time.
— NTSB_Newsroom (@NTSB_Newsroom) June 27, 2020
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 27-Jun-2020 21:35 | Captain Adam | Added |
| 29-Jun-2020 05:42 | Anon. | Updated [Time, Registration, Cn, Location, Phase, Destination airport, Source, Embed code, Damage] |
| 29-Jun-2020 05:42 | harro | Updated [Aircraft type, Operator, Destination airport, Source] |
| 29-Jun-2020 14:26 | RobertMB | Updated [Time, Aircraft type, Nature] |
| 29-Jun-2020 15:46 | Aerossurance | Updated [Location, Destination airport] |
| 29-Jun-2020 19:26 | Anon. | Updated [Time, Departure airport, Source, Narrative] |
| 25-Jun-2021 12:35 | aaronwk | Updated [Time, Phase, Nature, Departure airport, Source, Narrative] |
| 25-Mar-2022 17:51 | Captain Adam | Updated [Location, Phase, Nature, Destination airport, Source, Narrative, Category, Accident report, Photo] |
| 25-Mar-2022 17:51 | Captain Adam | Updated [Photo] |
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