Piper PA-31-350 accident near Elizabethton, TN
On April 7, 1994, a Piper PA-31-350 (airplane) was involved in an accident near Elizabethton, TN. 2 people died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- April 7, 1994
- Place
- Elizabethton, TN
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-31-350 · Airplane
- Injuries
- 2 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 36.330°N, 82.231°W
- NTSB ID
- 20001206X01022
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On April 7, 1994, at 0810 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-31-350, N64LB, collided with mountainous terrain near Elizabethton, Tennessee. The aircraft was destroyed. The airline transport pilot and one passenger were fatally injured. The aircraft was operated under 14 CFR Part 91 by Augusta Aviation, Inc., of Augusta, Georgia. Instrument meteorological conditions existed at the time, and an instrument flight rules (IFR) flight plan was filed for the positioning flight to Elizabethton. The flight originated in Augusta at 0650. According to the operator, the purpose of the flight was to pick up a patient at the Elizabethton Airport, so that he could be transported to a Veterans Administration hospital in Augusta for treatment. On the evening prior to the accident flight, a man, who identified himself as the pilot of N64LB, called the Macon Automated Flight Service Station (AFSS), and filed an IFR flight plan from Augusta to Elizabethton. He also obtained a weather briefing for the flight. At 0451, on the morning of the accident flight, he again phoned the Macon AFSS, and obtained an updated weather briefing for the flight to Elizabethton. The operator reported that the departure time of the accident flight was 0650. At 0758, the pilot of N64LB made initial contact with Tri- City Approach. N64LB was told to expect a lower altitude in five miles, and to expect a visual approach to Elizabethton Airport. At 0806, N64LB was issued a descent to 5,400 feet, and was advised of cloud top and icing information. At 0807, the Elizabethton Airport was pointed out to N64
Probable cause
THE PILOT'S ATTEMPTED VFR FLIGHT INTO IMC CONDITIONS, AND HIS FAILURE TO MAINTAIN A PROPER ALTITUDE OVER MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN. FACTORS WERE THE CLOUDS AND OBSCURATION AT THE ACCIDENT SITE.
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Browse: Tennessee · Piper aircraft
Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
