Piper PA 32 N47831

Summary

On 8 November 2017 at about 00:45 local time, a Piper PA 32 registered N47831 was involved in an accident near Morrison, Tennessee, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

8 November 2017 at 00:45

Classification

Accident

Location

Morrison, Tennessee, United States

Nearest airport

Warren County Memorial (RNC)

Coordinates

35.6528, -85.9164

Aircraft

Piper PA 32

Registration

N47831

Category

Airplane

Year built

1978

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Monroeville → McMinnville

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

IMC

Light

Night

NTSB number

ERA18FA016

2 people died.

The pilots' loss of control during a missed approach in night instrument meteorological conditions as a result of spatial disorientation.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The non-instrument-rated private pilot and flight instructor were conducting a cross-country flight in night instrument meteorological conditions; the destination airport reported 2 1/2 nautical miles visibility in mist and an overcast ceiling at 500 ft above ground level about the time of the accident. After performing a missed approach at the intended destination airport, the controller cleared the airplane to an alternate airport and provided the weather conditions at that airport, which included 300 ft overcast cloud ceiling. One of the pilots asked the controller to verify the ceiling at the alternate airport and stated that he would tune the radio to the airport's AWOS (automated weather observation service) to listen for himself. Radar data showed that the airplane entered a right descending spiral shortly thereafter. About 25 seconds later, one of the pilots declared a mayday; there were no further communications from the airplane. Radar indicated that the airplane reached a descent rate of about 4,500 ft per minute before radar contact was lost. The accident site was located in a field about 1,500 ft from the last radar return; the damage to the airplane and distribution of the wreckage were consistent with a high velocity impact. Examination of the airplane revealed no evidence of any preimpact mechanical anomalies. The relatively high workload associated with the missed approach and diversion along with the night instrument meteorological conditions present at the time were conducive to the development of pilot spatial disorientation. The airplane's rapid descent as depicted on radar and the high-energy impact are consistent with the known effects of spatial disorientation. Given the lack of mechanical anomalies found with the airplane, it is likely that the mayday declaration occurred after the onset of spatial disorientation and the subsequent loss of airplane control.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.