Piper PA-44-180 N578TP

Summary

On 8 June 2003 at about 17:40 local time, a Piper PA-44-180 registered N578TP was involved in an accident near Battleboro, North Carolina, United States. 3 people were on board and 3 died. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

8 June 2003 at 17:40

Classification

Accident

Location

Battleboro, North Carolina, United States

Coordinates

36.0019, -77.6836

Aircraft

Piper PA-44-180

Registration

N578TP

Category

Airplane

Engines

2

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Instructional

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Raleigh/Durham → Rocky Mount

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ATL03FA104

3 people died.

The certified flight instructor's (CFI) failure to maintain flying speed that resulted in a stall/spin and the uncontrolled collision with the ground.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The purpose of the instructional flight was to add-on muti-engine, instrument onto the dual students certified flight instructor rating. The flight departed at 1315, the instrument flight plan was cancelled and the flight continued under visual flight rules. Examination of the radar data shows the airplane conducting maneuvers at altitudes between 4,200 and 4,700 feet above ground level. Approximately 1340, an eyewitness heard the airplane flying overhead and then heard the engine sound stop. They looked up and saw the airplane spinning towards the ground. The witness did not recall hearing the engines running during the final descent. The pilot prior to the accident reported no flight control or mechanical anomalies. No anomalies with the airplane were noted during the post-crash examination.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.