Piper PA-30 N7243Y
17 December 1992 · Bowman, North Dakota, United States · Fatal
Summary
On 17 December 1992 at about 00:45 local time, a Piper PA-30 registered N7243Y, operated by Weather Modification, Inc., was involved in an accident near Bowman, North Dakota, 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.
The record
- Date
- at 00:45
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Bowman, North Dakota, United States
- Coordinates
- 46.1794, -103.3991
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-30
- Registration
- N7243Y
- Category
- Airplane
- Engines
- 2
- Operator
- Weather Modification, Inc.
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Unknown → Bismarck
- Aircraft damage
- Destroyed
- Weather
- IMC
- Light
- Night/Dark
- NTSB number
- CHI93FA053
People
1 person died.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Probable cause
THE NON INSTRUMENT RATED PRIVATE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE TERRAIN CLEARANCE AFTER INADVERTENT VFR FLIGHT INTO INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
THE NON INSTRUMENT RATED PRIVATE PILOT/MECHANIC DEPARTED SECOND IN A FLIGHT OF TWO COMPANY AIRCRAFT, TRAVELLING TO AN FAA MECHANICS SEMINAR. THE COMPANY CHIEF PILOT, IN THE LEAD AIRPLANE, REPORTED 'SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF, I FLEW INTO SOME LIGHT SNOW...I STARTED TO LOSE GROUND LIGHTS, SO I TOLD JARED WE SHOULD TURN AROUND...HE SAID HE WAS TURNING AROUND, TOO.' THERE WERE NO FURTHER RADIO TRANSMISSIONS FROM THE ACCIDENT AIRPLANE. THE CHIEF PILOT STATED IT WAS A DARK NIGHT, AND DETERIORATING WEATHER CONDITIONS INHIBITED AIRBORNE SEARCHES. THE ACCIDENT AIRPLANE WAS DISCOVERED THE NEXT MORNING. POSTACCIDENT EXAMINATION REVEALED NO EVIDENCE OF PREIMPACT MALFUNCTION.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Piper PA-30 accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 Feb 1992 | Piper PA-30 | Monte Vista, Colorado, United States | Fred Fair | No injuries | - |
| 17 Jul 1992 | Piper PA-30 | Shallotte, North Carolina, United States | McViegh, Stana J. | No injuries | - |
| 26 Oct 1992 | Piper PA-30 | Hillsboro, Texas, United States | Sun Belt Aviation Inc. | No injuries | - |
| 6 Sep 1992 | Piper PA-30 | Broussard, Louisiana, United States | Camacho, Raul | Fatal | 1 |
| 13 Jun 1992 | Piper PA-30 | Indian Head, Maryland, United States | Professional Flight Service | No injuries | - |
| 23 Jan 1992 | Piper PA-30 | Pacoima, California, United States | Smith, James A. | No injuries | - |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 22 Oct 1992 | King BOWERS-FLYBABY | Buffalo, North Dakota, United States | Neil G. Kovash | No injuries | - |
| 6 Nov 1992 | Smith Ted Aerostar AEROSTAR 601 | Wahpeton, North Dakota, United States | Crop View Corp. | Minor injuries | - |
| 22 Oct 1992 | Schweizer H-300 | Grand Forks, North Dakota, United States | University of North Dakota | No injuries | - |
| 24 Oct 1992 | Piper PA-25-260 | Trenton, North Dakota, United States | Jamestown Aviation, Inc. | Fatal | 1 |
| 15 Nov 1992 | Piper PA-28-180 | Makoti, North Dakota, United States | Paul M. Sonnenberg | No injuries | - |
| 21 Mar 1992 | Beechcraft F33A | Langdon, North Dakota, United States | Larson Implement | No injuries | - |