Piper PA-32R-300 N1645H
9 February 1994 · Vicksburg, Mississippi, United States · Fatal
Summary
On 9 February 1994 at about 04:35 local time, a Piper PA-32R-300 registered N1645H was involved in an accident near Vicksburg, Mississippi, United States. 2 people were on board and one died, one was seriously injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.
The record
- Date
- at 04:35
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Vicksburg, Mississippi, United States
- Nearest airport
- Vicksburg Municipal (VKS)
- Coordinates
- 32.3206, -90.8693
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-32R-300
- Registration
- N1645H
- Category
- Airplane
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Not recorded
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Tupelo → Unknown
- Aircraft damage
- Substantial
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Night/Dark
- NTSB number
- MIA94FA069
People
1 person died.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
Probable cause
FAILURE OF THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND TO MAINTAIN THE PROPER GLIDEPATH WHILE ON A STRAIGHT IN APPROACH RESULTING IN THE INFLIGHT COLLISION WITH TREES SHORT OF THE RUNWAY. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE DARK NIGHT CONDITION.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
WHILE ON A STRAIGHT IN APPROACH TO A RUNWAY DURING A DARK NIGHT WITH NO VISUAL APPROACH SLOPE INDICATOR AVAILABLE, THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH TREES ABOUT 2378 FEET SHORT OF THE RUNWAY. THE AIRPLANE THEN DESCENDED AND IMPACTED THE GROUND COMING TO REST UPRIGHT. EXAMINATION OF THE FLIGHT CONTROLS AND ENGINE REVEALED NO EVIDENCE OF PREIMPACT FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION. EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE ASSEMBLY REVEALED THAT THE ALTERNATOR WAS PHYSICALLY INSTALLED ON THE ENGINE BUT THE ELECTRICAL CONNECTIONS WERE NOT SECURED. THE PILOT DEPARTED ON THE RETURN FLIGHT WITHOUT THE ALTERNATOR BEING PROPERLY INSTALLED. EXAMINATION OF THE LANDING LIGHT BULB REVEALED THAT THE FILAMENT WAS NOT STRETCHED BUT BROKEN. THE LANDING LIGHT SWITCH WAS IN THE 'ON' POSITION. ACCORDING TO FIRE/RESCUE PERSONNEL, THE BATTERY, ALTERNATOR, FUEL PUMP, AND ANTICOLLISION SWITCHES WERE IN THE 'ON' POSITION IN THE COCKPIT BEFORE BEING TURNED 'OFF.'
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Piper PA-32R accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 Jan 1994 | Piper PA-32R-301 | Live Oak, Florida, United States | Barker, Sirios C. | Minor injuries | - |
| 16 Apr 1994 | Piper PA-32R-300 | Salem, Ohio, United States | Affordable Leasing, Inc. | Fatal | 3 |
| 19 Aug 1994 | Piper PA-32R-300 | Roanoke, Virginia, United States | Kulwicki, Joseph F. | Fatal | 2 |
| 7 Feb 1994 | Piper PA-32R-300 | Norfolk, Virginia, United States | Guardione Vincent & Michael | No injuries | - |
| 22 Feb 1994 | Piper PA-32R-300 | Berlin, New Jersey, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 18 Nov 1994 | Piper PA-32R-300 | Tripui, Mexico | Flyers, Inc. | No injuries | - |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 Jan 1994 | Cessna 150E | Raymond, Mississippi, United States | Wesley Flyers Club Inc. | Minor injuries | - |
| 14 Feb 1994 | Cessna 150L | Ocean Springs, Mississippi, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 29 Mar 1994 | Cessna 170 | Olive Branch, Mississippi, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 12 Jun 1994 | Hruby CAYUSE | Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, United States | - | Fatal | 1 |
| 19 Jun 1994 | Stolte DEUCE | Prentiss, Mississippi, United States | - | Fatal | 1 |
| 27 Jun 1994 | Air Tractor AT-401 | Walls, Mississippi, United States | Delta Dusters, Inc. | Minor injuries | - |