ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 36379
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| Date: | Tuesday 19 December 1995 |
| Time: | 14:11 LT |
| Type: |  Piper PA-32-301 |
| Owner/operator: | Wayne E. Betz |
| Registration: | N8349Z |
| MSN: | 32-8306008 |
| Year of manufacture: | 1982 |
| Total airframe hrs: | 2290 hours |
| Engine model: | Lycoming IO-540-K1G5 |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 2 / Occupants: 2 |
| Aircraft damage: | Destroyed |
| Category: | Accident |
| Location: | Memphis, TN -
 United States of America
|
| Phase: | Approach |
| Nature: | Private |
| Departure airport: | Wichita Falls, TX (SPS |
| (KMEM) | |
| Investigating agency: | NTSB |
| Confidence Rating: |  Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
Preflight weather briefings received by the pilot indicated that icing conditions were forecast for the route of flight and at the destination. The aircraft was not certificated or equipped for flight in icing conditions. While approaching the destination airport the pilot reported encountering moderate rime icing conditions during descent. About 35 minutes later, while on final approach, the aircraft was observed to slow to a 65 knot ground speed and enter a rapid descent. Witnesses observed the aircraft descend from the clouds in a nose down attitude, pitch up to a nose high attitude, and then enter a spin to right from which it crashed. Postcrash examination of the aircraft structure, flight controls, engine, propeller, and aircraft systems showed no evidence of precrash failure or malfunction. The medical examiner reported no findings that would indicate precrash incapacitation of the pilot or passenger.
Probable Cause: the pilot's continued flight into known forecast icing conditions which resulted in the aircraft developing an ice buildup, and the pilot's failure to maintain control of the aircraft. The icing conditions was a factor.
Accident investigation:
 |
|
Sources:
NTSB MIA96FA048
History of this aircraft
Other occurrences involving this aircraft
| 1 October 1983 | N8349Z | Private | 0 | Sewanee, TN | |
sub |
Location
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 24-Oct-2008 10:30 | ASN archive | Added |
| 21-Dec-2016 19:23 | ASN Update Bot | Updated [Time, Damage, Category, Investigating agency] |
| 09-Apr-2024 10:27 | ASN Update Bot | Updated [Time, Operator, Other fatalities, Departure airport, Destination airport, Source, Narrative, Category, Accident report] |
Corrections or additions? ... Edit this accident description
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