Piper PA 32R-300 N43829

Summary

On 10 August 2015 at about 03:25 local time, a Piper PA 32R-300 registered N43829 was involved in an accident near Harbor Springs, Michigan, 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

10 August 2015 at 03:25

Classification

Accident

Location

Harbor Springs, Michigan, United States

Nearest airport

Harbor Springs (MGN)

Coordinates

45.4244, -84.8994

Aircraft

Piper PA 32R-300

Registration

N43829

Category

Airplane

Year built

1977

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Detroit → Harbor Springs

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Night/Dark

NTSB number

CEN15FA342

1 person died.

The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from the trees during the approach in dark, night conditions, which resulted in controlled flight into trees and terrain.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The private pilot was completing a long cross-country flight during dark, night visual meteorological conditions. While on a visual approach to the runway, the airplane impacted trees and terrain less than a mile from the end of the runway. The pilot had not logged night flight experience in several years and had not logged any night flight experience in the make and model of the accident airplane. Additionally, he had not logged a flight into the airport in his logbook. The airport's tree obstructions and nonstandard precision approach path indicator with a 4.0-degree glidepath were noted in the airport facility directory. However, it was the pilot's first flight into the airport; thus, it is likely that his unfamiliarity with the airport environment, including the trees close proximity to the airport and nonstandard glidepath, and the dark, night conditions led to his failure to maintain clearance from the trees. The witness marks on the trees and the damage to the airplane were consistent with the airplane being in a relatively wings level descent when it impacted the tops of the trees. The condition of the landing gear and flaps were consistent with the airplane being configured to land. There were no mechanical anomalies with the airplane, engine, or related systems that would have precluded normal operation at the time of the accident.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.