Piper PA-32R-300 N5373F

Summary

On 10 February 1995 at about 02:28 local time, a Piper PA-32R-300 registered N5373F was involved in an accident near Conroe, Texas, United States. 6 people were on board and 5 died, one had minor injuries. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

10 February 1995 at 02:28

Classification

Accident

Location

Conroe, Texas, United States

Coordinates

30.3810, -95.3791

Aircraft

Piper PA-32R-300

Registration

N5373F

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Point Lookout → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

IMC

Light

Night/Dark

NTSB number

FTW95FA112

5 people died.

THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO FOLLOW PUBLISHED IFR PROCEDURES. FACTORS WERE THE WEATHER CONDITIONS, THE DARK NIGHT, AND THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO ACTIVATE THE APPROACH LIGHTING SYSTEM.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE FLIGHT HAD BEEN CLEARED FOR AN ILS RWY 14 APPROACH. WEATHER CONDITIONS PROVIDED TO THE PILOT WAS 100 FEET OBSCURED, VISIBILITY 1/2 MILE IN FOG. THE FLIGHT CALLED THE FBO FOR FIELD CONDITIONS, AND ABOUT 15-20 MINUTES LATER THE AIRPLANE CAME OVER THE FIELD AND MADE A TURN TO THE RIGHT. THE WRECKAGE WAS LOCATED APPROX 1/2 MILE SHORT, AND 1/4 MILE LEFT, OF THE EXTENDED CENTERLINE OF RWY 14. WITNESSES IN THE FBO OFFICE STATED THEY DID NOT HEAR ANY 'CLICKS' OVER THE RADIO NORMALLY HEARD WHEN A PILOT ACTIVATES THE APPROACH LIGHTING SYSTEM. THE PILOT WAS IN THE RIGHT SEAT. THIS WAS THE PILOT'S FIRST FLIGHT INTO THE AIRPORT.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.