Piper PA32R N315AM

Summary

On 27 June 2020 at about 06:53 local time, a Piper PA32R registered N315AM was involved in an accident near Zavalla, Texas, United States. One person was on board and one died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

27 June 2020 at 06:53

Classification

Accident

Location

Zavalla, Texas, United States

Nearest airport

Private (n/a)

Coordinates

31.1875, -94.3408

Aircraft

Piper PA32R

Registration

N315AM

Category

Airplane

Year built

2006

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Houston → Zavalla

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

IMC

Light

Night

NTSB number

CEN20LA248

1 person died.

The non-certificated pilot’s poor decision-making as he attempted to land at an unlit airstrip in night instrument conditions, which resulted in the airplane’s collision with terrain short of the runway.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The noncertificated pilot made a night flight to an unlit airstrip. Upon arrival, with a low overcast ceiling, the pilot circled the airstrip for the next 54 minutes at altitudes ranging from about 300 to 1,350 ft above ground level. During the approach attempts, the pilot descended below the cloud layer, executed a go around, and maneuvered for another approach. On the pilot’s final approach attempt, the airplane impacted a tree line prior to the runway threshold on a heading perpendicular to the runway. Examination revealed no evidence of mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. Toxicology testing showed the pilot had methamphetamine, amphetamine, and THC (the primary psychoactive chemical in cannabis) in his system. The pilot’s methamphetamine levels did not indicate if he was experiencing drug effects, and the investigation was not able to determine if the pilot had an underlying condition being treated with amphetamine or methamphetamine. It was not determined if the pilot was under impairment from THC. According to a family member, the pilot normally flew to the unlit airstrip at night and descended in a circular pattern until he visually identified the runway. Although the pilot’s substance use had significant potential to cause impairment, the investigation determined the pilot’s aircraft handling was not deficient relative to his limited experience of flying in night instrument conditions and the prolonged period of approach attempts. The pilot’s decision to continue the night approaches during instrument conditions was consistent with a pattern of poor decision-making and risk-taking behavior.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.