Piper PA32RT N3016L

Summary

On 1 February 2019 at about 18:15 local time, a Piper PA32RT registered N3016L was involved in an accident near Atlantic Ocean, 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

1 February 2019 at 18:15

Classification

Accident

Location

Atlantic Ocean, United States

Coordinates

37.6350, -72.8609

Aircraft

Piper PA32RT

Registration

N3016L

Category

Airplane

Year built

1979

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

West Palm Beach → Marsh Harbour

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

IMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ERA19LA093

2 people died.

The pilot's loss of control due to spatial disorientation.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot departed under visual flight rules before obtaining an instrument flight rules (IFR) clearance from air traffic control into an area of moderate rain showers and thunderstorms over the open ocean. A review of radar and voice communication data revealed the pilot struggled to maintain assigned headings throughout the duration of the flight. When queried by air traffic control, the pilot stated that the wind was "squirrely," and later stated that the heading deviations were the result of autopilot and instrument issues; however, the pilot declared that he was "fine" and declined offers of assistance from air traffic control. The directional changes became increasingly divergent until the radar track depicted a rapid, tightening, descending right turn, during which radar contact was lost. The wreckage was not located after the accident despite a search undertaken by air and sea assets, thus the wreckage could not be examined. The precipitation and restricted visibility conditions present in the area at the time of the accident were conducive to the development of spatial disorientation. The airplane's erratic flight track, which included directional changes inconsistent with progress toward the destination, and the rapidly descending right turn depicted on radar are consistent with the known effects of spatial disorientation. It is likely that the pilot's decision to initiate the flight into an area of restricted visibility and thunderstorms resulted in his loss of airplane control due to spatial disorientation.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.