Piper PA-38-112 N2409K
1 July 1990 · Florence, Alabama, United States · Fatal
Summary
On 1 July 1990 at about 22:23 local time, a Piper PA-38-112 registered N2409K was involved in an accident near Florence, Alabama, United States. 4 people were on board and 4 died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.
The record
- Date
- at 22:23
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Florence, Alabama, United States
- Coordinates
- 34.8204, -87.6594
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-38-112
- Registration
- N2409K
- Category
- Airplane
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Not recorded
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Instructional
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Huntsville → Bolivar
- Aircraft damage
- Destroyed
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- ATL90FA139
People
4 people died.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Probable cause
FAILURE OF THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND OF N2409K TO MAINTAIN SAFE SEPARATION FROM N2437K DURING UNAUTHORIZED FORMATION MANEUVERING. OVERCONFIDENCE IN PERSONAL ABILITY AND THE EXECUTIVE OF UNAUTHORIZED FORMATION FLIGHT ON THE PART OF BOTH PILOTS-IN-COMMAND WERE FACTORS IN THE ACCIDENT. THE LACK OF TOTAL EXPERIENCE OF BOTH PILOTS-IN-COMMAND WAS ALSO A FACTOR IN THE ACCIDENT.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
THE PILOTS OF TWO SIMILAR PA-38-112 AIRPLANES WERE FILED FOR SEPARATE VFR CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHTS. AFTER AN INTERMEDIATE STOPOVER AT AN AIRPORT AWAY FROM HOME BASE, THE TWO AIRPLANES JOINED UP AND BEGAN FLYING IN FORMATION. ACCORDING TO A WITNESS, THE TRAILING AIRPLANE (N2409K) COLLIDED WITH THE LEADING AIRPLANE (N2437K) FROM THE REAR WHILE MANEUVERING. IMPACT, PAINT AND RUBBER TRANSFER MARKS INDICATED THAT N2409K COLLIDED WITH N2437K FROM THE REAR, RIGHT SIDE. THE FLIGHT SCHOOL FROM WHICH THE PILOTS WERE ENROLLED EXPRESSLY PROHIBITED FORMATION FLYING OF ANY TYPE. THE PIC'S OF EACH AIRPLANE HAD LOGGED ABOUT 118 HOURS EACH PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT, AND HAD RECEIVED THEIR PILOT CERTIFICATES THE MONTH PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT. THE PILOTS AND PILOT RATED PASSENGERS WERE ALL SPANISH CITIZENS.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Aircraft involved
| Aircraft | Registration | Operator | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Piper PA-38-112 PA-38-112 | N2409K | - | Destroyed |
| Piper PA-38-112 PA-38-112 | N2437K | - | Destroyed |
Other Piper PA-38 accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 25 Jul 1990 | Piper PA-38 | Hinckley, Illinois, United States | Lumanair, Inc | Fatal | 2 |
| 18 Apr 1990 | Piper PA-38-112 | Marco Island, Florida, United States | - | Fatal | 1 |
| 3 Jun 1990 | Piper PA-38-112 | Belgrade, Montana, United States | Sunbird Aviation, Inc. | Serious injuries | - |
| 14 Jul 1990 | Piper PA-38-112 | Houston, Texas, United States | Ray's Flight Service | No injuries | - |
| 9 Sep 1990 | Piper PA-38-112 | Quarryville, Pennsylvania, United States | - | Serious injuries | - |
| 20 Oct 1990 | Piper PA-38-125 | Levelland, Texas, United States | Levelland Aviation, Inc. | Fatal | 2 |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 29 Sep 1990 | Helio HST-550A | Mobile, Alabama, United States | Mullins, Howard M. | Serious injuries | - |
| 30 Sep 1990 | Cessna 152 | Dothan, Alabama, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 31 May 1990 | Hughes TH-55 | Brantley, Alabama, United States | State of al ABC Board | Fatal | 1 |
| 1 Aug 1990 | Cessna 150J | Baker Hill, Alabama, United States | - | Fatal | 2 |
| 17 Aug 1990 | Neal CHRISTEN EAGLE II | Akron, Alabama, United States | Moody/Linebarger | Fatal | 2 |
| 12 Apr 1990 | Jolly BAKENG DUCE | Brownsboro, Alabama, United States | - | Minor injuries | - |