Piper PA-31P-350 N134DE

Summary

On 2 April 2005 at about 17:10 local time, a Piper PA-31P-350 registered N134DE was involved in an accident near Ridgefield, Connecticut, United States. One person was on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

2 April 2005 at 17:10

Classification

Accident

Location

Ridgefield, Connecticut, United States

Nearest airport

Danbury Municipal Airport (DXR)

Coordinates

41.3622, -73.5261

Aircraft

Piper PA-31P-350

Registration

N134DE

Category

Airplane

Engines

2

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

East Hampton → Danbury

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

IMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

IAD05LA050

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's improper IFR procedure by flying below the minimum descent altitude, which resulted in the airplane striking trees.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

Prior to departing on the accident flight, a mechanic, who was to perform work on the airplane advised the owner/pilot that the weather was below landing minimums and he should not attempt the trip. During a localizer approach at the airport, the airplane impacted trees that were located west of the approach end of the runway. After executing a missed approach the pilot advised ATC that he had bird strikes on both wings and that it looked like the de-icing boots were damaged. A local resident who witnessed the event stated that "the scraping sound of branches against metal was audible, and I saw the upper branches of the pine trees waving after contact with the plane." The trees were located at a terrain elevation of 599 feet above sea level. The minimum descent altitude for the approach was published as 1,100 feet.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.