VFR into IMC · NTSB ERA22FA014
PIPER PA-24-260 — Blairsville, GA
| Date | October 13, 2021 |
| Location | Blairsville, GA |
| Aircraft | PIPER PA-24-260 |
| Purpose of flight | Personal |
| Conditions | Day · Instrument Meteorological Cond |
| Phase / occurrence | Uncontrolled descent Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) |
| Pilot age | 71 |
| Pilot total time | 1,271 hrs · Experienced |
| Time in type | Unknown |
| Fatalities | 1 |
Probable cause
NTSB findings
- Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Performance/control parameters-Altitude-Not attained/maintained
- Personnel issues-Action/decision-Info processing/decision-Decision making/judgment-Pilot
- Environmental issues-Conditions/weather/phenomena-Ceiling/visibility/precip-Fog-Decision related to condition
- Personnel issues-Psychological-Perception/orientation/illusion-Spatial disorientation-Pilot
What happened
The private pilot arrived at the airport for an instrument flight rules (IFR), cross-country flight to find a low ceiling and thick fog conditions prevailing. He waited for the weather to improve; however, he elected to depart when the ceiling was 200 ft and the visibility was ¼ mile in fog. The published departure procedure required a climb in visual conditions to cross the airport at or above 4,500 ft before continuing on course. Flight track data indicated that, immediately after takeoff, the pilot commenced a left turn to the northwest followed by a reverse turn to the right before the data ended. The airplane impacted trees and the bank of a lake, descending at a 22° angle to the ground. The airplane was destroyed, and the pilot was fatally injured. Witnesses reported that the area around the accident site was enshrouded in thick fog at the time of the accident. The pilot most likely entered instrument meteorological conditions (IMC) immediately after takeoff, experienced spatial disorientation, and lost control of the airplane. An examination of the wreckage revealed no evidence of a preexisting mechanical failure or anomaly.