Piper PA-28-151 N32401

Summary

On 24 July 2015 at about 07:22 local time, a Piper PA-28-151 registered N32401 was involved in an accident near Truth or Consequences, New Mexico, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 died. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

24 July 2015 at 07:22

Classification

Accident

Location

Truth or Consequences, New Mexico, United States

Nearest airport

Truth Or Consequences Muni (TCS)

Coordinates

33.2506, -107.2936

Aircraft

Piper PA-28-151

Registration

N32401

Category

Airplane

Year built

1974

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Truth or Consequences → Truth or Consequences

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Night/Dark

NTSB number

CEN15FA325

2 people died.

The student pilot's improper decision to conduct a flight in dark night conditions without a solo night flight endorsement and his subsequent loss of airplane control.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The fixed-base operator spoke to the student pilot about 1600 the day before the accident, left the airfield about 1700, and returned the following morning at 0700. When he arrived at the airport, he noticed that the accident airplane was gone. The airplane wreckage with the noninstrument-rated student pilot and passenger on board was found several days later in very sparsely populated area with large, unlit areas; a watch found at the accident site was stopped at 0122, which is likely when the accident occurred. The initial impact point was consistent with the airplane impacting terrain in a near-vertical attitude while the pilot was likely either maneuvering toward or attempting to approach the airport. A postaccident examination of the airplane did not reveal any preimpact anomalies. Meteorological and astrological conditions on the night of the accident included a clear sky with no moon illumination, which would have required the pilot to use celestial and cultural lights and the airfield's pilot-controlled lighting for orientation. However, it could not be determined if the pilot activated the runway lighting. The student did not have any endorsements for solo night flights, and his night flight experience could not be determined. The pilot's improper decision to conduct a flight in challenging dark night conditions likely led to his subsequent loss of airplane control and collision with terrain. Although toxicological testing detected ethanol in the pilot's specimens, it was determined that the ethanol likely resulted from sources other than ingestion.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.