Piper PA-28-140 N422FL

Summary

On 7 September 1996 at about 23:50 local time, a Piper PA-28-140 registered N422FL, operated by Robert S. Golabek, was involved in an accident near Frankford Twnsp, New Jersey, 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

7 September 1996 at 23:50

Classification

Accident

Location

Frankford Twnsp, New Jersey, United States

Coordinates

Not recorded

Aircraft

Piper PA-28-140

Registration

N422FL

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Robert S. Golabek

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Sussex → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

IMC

Light

Night/Dark

NTSB number

NYC96FA182

1 person died.

the pilot's inadequate preflight planning/preparation by not obtaining a preflight weather briefing, his VFR flight into instrument meteorological conditions (IMC), and his failure to maintain control of the aircraft after becoming spatial disoriented. Factors relating to the accident were: darkness, and the pilot's lack of recent experience in the type of operation (night and actual instrument flight conditions).

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot elected to conduct a night VFR flight in weather conditions described by witnesses as 1000 to 1500 foot ceiling and less than one mile visibility with fog. The airplane was reported missing that same night, and it was located 2 days later, about 5 miles west of the departure point. An examination of the crash site revealed the aircraft struck the ground in a steep nose down attitude. Examination of the wreckage did not disclose evidence of a mechanical malfunction. An updated weather advisory (AIRMET) had been issued for the area, which included a forecast for instrument meteorological conditions (IMC). There was no record that a weather briefing was obtained by the pilot. The pilot had logged 85 hours of instrument time, of which, 9 hours were logged as actual instrument time. The most recent actual instrument experience that he logged was during an instrument competency check, which was completed in August 1995. His most recent night experience was 0.7 hours, which was logged in August 1993. He had logged no actual instrument night experience.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.