Piper PA28-236 N412GK

Summary

On 15 November 1991 at about 04:33 local time, a Piper PA28-236 registered N412GK, operated by Heck, Thomas J III, was involved in an accident near Valley Center, Kansas, United States. One person was on board and one died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

15 November 1991 at 04:33

Classification

Accident

Location

Valley Center, Kansas, United States

Nearest airport

Wichita Mid-Continent (ICT)

Coordinates

37.8306, -97.3705

Aircraft

Piper PA28-236

Registration

N412GK

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Heck, Thomas J III

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Albuquerque → Wichita

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

IMC

Light

Night/Dark

NTSB number

CHI92FA028

1 person died.

THE PILOT'S SPATIAL DISORIENTATION, HIS LOSS OF AIRCRAFT CONTROL, AND HIS EXCEEDING THE AIRCRAFT'S DESIGN LIMITS. FACTORS IN THE ACCIDENT WERE THE PILOT'S DISREGARD FOR DIRECTIVES AND PROCEDURES, AND HIS CONTINUED FLIGHT INTO KNOWN ADVERSE WEATHER.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

A PRIVATE PILOT WITHOUT INSTRUMENT RATING OBTAINED A WEATHER BRIEF AND FILED IFR FOR A 4-HOUR NIGHT FLIGHT TO A REFUELING STOP. HIS DESTINATION WAS REPORTING IFR AND FORECASTING MARGINAL CONDITIONS ON ARRIVAL, WITH AN OUTLOOK FOR IFR. WEATHER REMAINED IFR THROUGH ARRIVAL, AND HE COMMENCED AN ILS APPROACH TO THE FIELD. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO INTERCEPT COURSE, THE PILOT INITIATED A RIGHT TURN WHICH CONTINUED AWAY FROM THE FIELD AND WAS ACCOMPANIED BY A RAPID DESCENT OUT OF RADAR CONTACT. THE AIRPLANE BROKE UP IN FLIGHT AS RESULT OF HIGH POSITIVE ACCELERATION.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.