Piper PA32-300 N4089W

Summary

On 6 October 2013 at about 02:51 local time, a Piper PA32-300 registered N4089W, operated by Star Marianas Air Inc, was involved in an accident near Tinian Island, United States. 7 people were on board and 3 died, 4 were seriously injured. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

6 October 2013 at 02:51

Classification

Accident

Location

Tinian Island, United States

Coordinates

15.0622, 145.6236

Aircraft

Piper PA32-300

Registration

N4089W

Category

Airplane

Year built

1967

Engines

1

Operator

Star Marianas Air Inc

Operating rule

Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Tinian Island → Obyan

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Night/Dark

NTSB number

WPR14LA007

3 people died.

The pilot’s failure to maintain terrain clearance while maneuvering at low altitude in dark night conditions.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

During a night visual flight rules (VFR) cross-country flight, the pilot encountered a rain shower that reduced the cloud ceiling and visibility, so he then attempted to return to the departure airport. While maneuvering, the airplane descended and impacted terrain. A witness estimated that the airplane's altitude was less than 500 feet. He saw the airplane make a sharp left turn and then fly out of his view and then he heard the sound of a crash. Physical evidence observed at the accident site was consistent with controlled flight into terrain. No evidence was found of any preimpact mechanical discrepancies that would have precluded normal operation of the airplane. Damage to the propeller blades was consistent with the engine developing power at impact. It is likely that the pilot attempted to maintain VFR flight by descending to remain below the clouds and was unable to see and avoid the terrain due to dark night conditions.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.