CESSNA T-50 — Lenox Twp., PA, 2013

CESSNA T-50 — Lenox Twp., PA

2 fatal High-time pilotNightIMC

Date	September 3, 2013
Location	Lenox Twp., PA
Aircraft	CESSNA T-50
Purpose of flight	Personal
Conditions	Night/Dark · Instrument Meteorological Cond
Phase / occurrence	Prior to flight Preflight or dispatch event
Pilot age	73
Pilot total time	18,300 hrs · High time
Time in type	100 hrs
Fatalities	2

Probable cause

The pilot's intentional visual flight into night instrument meteorological conditions and thunderstorms and his improper decision to takeoff without getting updated weather information after a briefer cautioned him during a previous flight that visual flight rules flight was not recommended along his route, which resulted in collision with trees and terrain during a visual approach.

NTSB findings

Environmental issues-Conditions/weather/phenomena-Light condition-Dark-Decision related to condition - C
Environmental issues-Conditions/weather/phenomena-Convective weather-Thunderstorm-Decision related to condition - C
Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Performance/control parameters-Altitude-Not attained/maintained - C
Personnel issues-Action/decision-Info processing/decision-Decision making/judgment-Pilot - C
Personnel issues-Task performance-Planning/preparation-Weather planning-Pilot - C

What happened

The pilot departed at night on the final leg of a cross-country flight without getting an update on weather information he had been provided by a briefer about 3 1/2 hours before the accident. At that time, the briefer cautioned the pilot about instrument flight conditions with ceilings below 1,000 feet and advised him that visual flight rules flight was not recommended throughout his entire flight route due to a convective SIGMET and severe thunderstorm watches and warnings in effect throughout that area. The pilot acknowledged the information and stated that he would "look at weather radar."

One witness, whose home was located 2 miles southeast of the destination airport, observed the airplane flying low in a valley just above the trees and below the surrounding ridgelines. He stated that the sound of the engines was loud and continuous as the airplane flew out of his sight from the west to the east, returned, and then flew westbound just above the tree tops. The airplane then flew off in the direction of an "enormous black cloud with lightning flashing out of it" and eventually out of his view. Examination of the wreckage and the wreckage path revealed evidence of engine power at impact, and no preimpact mechanical anomalies with the airplane or flight control system were found that would have precluded normal operation.

An editorial "what led to it / how to avoid it" analysis for this accident is generated separately and will appear here.