Piper PA32R N599ST

Summary

On 11 March 2020 at about 11:36 local time, a Piper PA32R registered N599ST was involved in an accident near Rensselaer, Indiana, United States. One person was on board and one was seriously injured. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

11 March 2020 at 11:36

Classification

Accident

Location

Rensselaer, Indiana, United States

Nearest airport

Jasper County (RZL)

Coordinates

40.9483, -87.1789

Aircraft

Piper PA32R

Registration

N599ST

Category

Airplane

Year built

2005

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

LaFayette → Rensselaer

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

IMC

Light

Not Reported

NTSB number

CEN20LA118

1 person was seriously injured.

The non-instrument rated pilot’s failure to establish a climb while initiating a missed approach after conducting an instrument approach below weather minimums.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The non-instrument rated pilot planned a cross-country flight in instrument meteorological conditions. The pilot obtained weather information and filed an instrument flight rules (IFR) flight plan through his on-line weather/flight planning account the day of the accident. Air traffic control data indicated that the flight and initial portion of the instrument approach proceeded normally. Position data revealed that the airplane proceeded inbound and descended as expected along the assigned approach course. The airplane passed the runway approach threshold at an altitude of about 300 ft above ground level (agl) and entered a gradual left turn; however, the established descent continued. The final data point depicted the airplane about 0.14 mile east of the runway, about 100 ft agl. The pilot’s memory of the instrument approach was vague due to his injuries; however, he stated that he was unable to see the runway and decided to execute a missed approach. At some point, he either made a “bad input” into the autopilot or the autopilot commanded a slight turn or descent. The accident site was located immediately southeast of the final position data point. A postimpact fire destroyed much of the airplane. A postaccident examination did not identify any preimpact abnormities that would have contributed to the accident. The instrument approach procedure allowed for descent as low as 250 ft above the runway elevation and required 1-3/8 to 1 mile flight visibility to land depending on the capabilities of the airplane. Just before the accident the automated weather reporting station recorded calm winds, one-half mile visibility in fog, and an overcast ceiling at 200 ft above ground level. The pilot held a private pilot certificate with a single-engine land airplane rating; however, he did not have an instrument rating. The accident was consistent with the non-instrument rated pilot’s loss of control during a go-around attempt after conducting an instrument approach in weather conditions that were below minimums.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.