New Piper PA 32R-301T N3127R

Summary

On 12 December 2014 at about 23:29 local time, a New Piper PA 32R-301T registered N3127R, operated by Integrity Home Care, Inc., was involved in an accident near Springfield, Missouri, United States. 4 people were on board and 2 were seriously injured, 2 had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

12 December 2014 at 23:29

Classification

Accident

Location

Springfield, Missouri, United States

Nearest airport

Downtown (3DW)

Coordinates

37.2181, -93.2658

Aircraft

New Piper PA 32R-301T

Registration

N3127R

Category

Airplane

Year built

2005

Engines

1

Operator

Integrity Home Care, Inc.

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Business

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Lee's Summit → Springfield

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Night

NTSB number

CEN15LA077

2 people were seriously injured.

The pilot’s decision to descend below the recommended altitude during approach for landing in night visual meteorological conditions, and his failure to see and avoid a lighted tower, which resulted in collision with the tower and a subsequent total loss of engine power.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

After descending through a cloud layer on an instrument approach in night conditions, the private pilot reached visual meteorological conditions, cancelled his instrument flight plan, and advised air traffic control that he was proceeding directly to the destination airport. The airplane was about 2 miles from the airport and flying at an altitude about 275 ft above airport elevation when it struck and damaged the top of a 367 ft-tall cellular tower. The airplane experienced a total loss of engine power and impacted trees and terrain in a residential area. Postaccident examination of the wreckage revealed no evidence of mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. Federal Aviation Administration guidance states that, while over a congested area, except when necessary for take-off or landing, the pilot of an airplane should maintain an altitude of 1,000 ft above the highest obstacle within a horizontal radius of 2,000 ft of the aircraft. Guidance also indicates that pilots should maintain an altitude of about 1,000 ft above airport elevation until entering the downwind leg of the traffic pattern.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.