Piper PA-31-325 N174BH

Summary

On 8 June 2012 at about 19:27 local time, a Piper PA-31-325 registered N174BH was involved in an accident near Duluth, Minnesota, United States. One person was on board and one 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 2012 at 19:27

Classification

Accident

Location

Duluth, Minnesota, United States

Coordinates

47.0572, -91.5967

Aircraft

Piper PA-31-325

Registration

N174BH

Category

Airplane

Engines

2

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

South St Paul → South St Paul

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN12FAMS1

1 person died.

Undetermined because the airplane was not found.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The airline transport-rated pilot departed in the twin-engine airplane for a maintenance flight to break in a new engine. The flight was expected to last about 4 hours. Radar track data indicated that the airplane departed the airport and proceeded north following the western shoreline of a lake. While following the shoreline, the airplane descended from about 2,800 to 1,600 ft, which was its last recorded position. When the airplane did not return on time, it was reported missing, and an extensive search was conducted. However, the airplane and pilot were not found.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.