VFR into IMC · NTSB CEN18FA054
PIPER PA28 — Reeds Spring, MO
| Date | December 18, 2017 |
| Location | Reeds Spring, MO |
| Aircraft | PIPER PA28 |
| Purpose of flight | Personal |
| Conditions | Night · Instrument Meteorological Cond |
| Phase / occurrence | Prior to flight Preflight or dispatch event |
| Pilot age | 52 |
| Pilot total time | 100 hrs · Low time |
| Time in type | Unknown |
| Fatalities | 2 |
Probable cause
NTSB findings
- Personnel issues-Task performance-Planning/preparation-Weather planning-Pilot - C
- Personnel issues-Action/decision-Info processing/decision-Decision making/judgment-Pilot - C
- Environmental issues-Conditions/weather/phenomena-Ceiling/visibility/precip-Below VFR minima-Effect on personnel - C
- Environmental issues-Conditions/weather/phenomena-Ceiling/visibility/precip-Below VFR minima-Decision related to condition - C
- Personnel issues-Experience/knowledge-Experience/qualifications-Qualification/certification-Pilot
What happened
The noninstrument-rated private pilot and the passenger, who held a student pilot certificate, departed on a night cross-country flight. The pilot was not in communication with air traffic control during the accident flight; however, a review of radar information revealed a flight track that correlated with the accident flight. The airplane approached it's destination from the north/northwest, making several turns, including circles, along its route of flight, before the target disappeared from radar near the accident location.
Witnesses near the accident site stated that the visibility was poor and that it was foggy at the time of the accident. A review of weather conditions revealed instrument meteorological conditions at the accident site, and at the destination airport. A further review of weather conditions for the time the flight originated from its departure airport, and an hour before departure time, revealed similar instrument weather conditions near the accident site and destination airport. There was no record that the pilot received a preflight weather briefing for the planned flight.
Although examination of the airplane was limited by impact damage, no pre-impact abnormalities were noted with the airframe or engine.
The accident is consistent with the noninstrument-rated pilot's flight into known instrument meteorological conditions and subsequent collision with terrain.