Ayres S2R-T45 N3107B

Summary

On 23 September 1996 at about 09:45 local time, a Ayres S2R-T45 registered N3107B was involved in an accident near Granger, Texas, 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

23 September 1996 at 09:45

Classification

Accident

Location

Granger, Texas, United States

Coordinates

30.7101, -97.4399

Aircraft

Ayres S2R-T45

Registration

N3107B

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Positioning

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Laneport → Haskell

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

IMC

Light

Night/Dark

NTSB number

FTW96FA399

1 person died.

the pilot's inadvertent flight into adverse weather conditions, and subsequent loss of aircraft control due to spatial disorientation. Factors relating to the accident were darkness, the prevailing fog and low ceilings, the inadequate flight instruments available to the pilot, and the pilot's lack of instrument experience.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed throughout the area for the night cross-country flight, which originated from the operator's private airstrip at approximately 0435. The noninstrument-rated commercial pilot did not file a flight plan for the intended 195 nautical mile flight. Concerned relatives reported the airplane missing, when it failed to arrive at its destination by 0630. The airplane was not equipped with an ELT. The wreckage was located in an open pasture approximately 5 miles west of the point of departure, at approximately 1830 the next evening. Physical evidence indicated that the airplane impacted the ground in a nose down attitude at a high rate of speed. Flight instruments installed in the airplane consisted of an altimeter, an airspeed indicator, a magnetic compass, and a slip (ball) indicator. There were no reported eyewitnesses to the accident. Examination of the wreckage at the accident site did not disclosed any mechanical problems or evidence of preimpact malfunction.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.