VFR into IMC · NTSB WPR09FA034
PIPER PA-32S-300 — Forest Falls, CA
| Date | November 9, 2008 |
| Location | Forest Falls, CA |
| Aircraft | PIPER PA-32S-300 |
| Purpose of flight | Personal |
| Conditions | Day · Instrument Meteorological Cond |
| Phase / occurrence | Enroute-cruise Controlled flight into terr/obj (CFIT) |
| Pilot age | 74 |
| Pilot total time | 7,303 hrs · High time |
| Time in type | Unknown |
| Fatalities | 4 |
Probable cause
NTSB findings
- Personnel issues-Task performance-Planning/preparation-Flight planning/navigation-Pilot - C
- Environmental issues-Physical environment-Terrain-Mountainous/hilly terrain-Contributed to outcome
- Environmental issues-Conditions/weather/phenomena-Ceiling/visibility/precip-Below VFR minima-Response/compensation - C
What happened
The flight departed in visual flight rule (VFR) flight conditions on a cross-country flight back to the pilot's home airport. About 35 miles southeast of the destination airport, the airplane impacted the northwest side of an 11,000-foot mountain approximately 150 feet below the mountain's crest. Based on an analysis of the meteorological conditions existing at the time of the accident and in the vicinity of the accident site, the cloud bases were near 7,000 feet with the cloud tops above 15,000 feet. An Airman's Information (AIRMET) report for icing and turbulence had been issued for the time of the accident, in the accident area. An airframe and engine inspection revealed no preimpact mechanical anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot had a history, known to the FAA, of an abnormal heart rhythm (atrial fibrillation) for which he was taking a blood thinner to reduce stroke risk, and a color vision deficiency. The accident forces prevented the evaluation of any pre-existing disease, and it is unclear what, if any, relevance the pilot’s cardiac abnormalities or color vision deficiency had to the accident.