Piper PA-28-180 N15091

Summary

On 14 February 1998 at about 13:33 local time, a Piper PA-28-180 registered N15091 was involved in an accident near Fort Pierce, Florida, 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

14 February 1998 at 13:33

Classification

Accident

Location

Fort Pierce, Florida, United States

Coordinates

27.2995, -80.4904

Aircraft

Piper PA-28-180

Registration

N15091

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Stuart → Ocala

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

IMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

MIA98FA079

1 person died.

The pilot's continued visual flight rules into instrument flight rules conditions and his failure to maintain altitude after encountering instrument flight rules conditions resulting in the aircraft colliding with powerlines and crashing. A factor in the accident was the pilot's failure to obtain a full weather briefing prior to departure.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot did not obtain a weather briefing from FAA Flight Service or a DUAT's vendor. The pilot was observed to go into the weather room at the airport where commercial computer weather services was available. Departure was delayed due to low ceilings and visibility. After departure the aircraft was observed flying low in fog, collide with powerlines, and crash. Postcrash examination of the aircraft structure, flight controls, engine, and propeller showed no evidence of precrash failure or malfunction.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.