Piper PA-28-140 accident near Bird-In-Hand, PA
On October 8, 1995, a Piper PA-28-140 (airplane) was involved in an accident near Bird-In-Hand, PA. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: substantial.
- Date
- October 8, 1995
- Place
- Bird-In-Hand, PA
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-140 · Airplane
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 1 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Substantial
- Position
- 40.050°N, 76.180°W
- NTSB ID
- 20001207X04640
NTSB summary
On October 8, 1995, at 1530 eastern daylight time (EDT), a Piper PA-28-140, N6360W, collided with power lines in Bird-in-Hand, Pennsylvania, while on approach to runway 28 at Smoketown Airport, in Smoketown, Pennsylvania. The certificated private pilot was seriously injured, and the safety pilot was fatally injured. The aircraft sustained substantial damage. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, no flight plan was filed. The personal flight operated under 14 CFR 91, and originated from Perkiomen Valley Airport in Collegeville, Pennsylvania, at about 1430 EDT. The intended destination was Smoketown, Pennsylvania. The pilot reported that they flew from Collegeville to Smoketown at 3,000 feet Mean Sea Level (MSL), and changed frequencies to monitor the traffic at Pottstown, Pennsylvania. The pilot stated that at that point, the safety pilot asked him if he wanted "...some hood time." The pilot stated: "It had been several weeks since I had practiced simulated IFR [Instrument Flight Rules] and it seemed like an excellent idea." He reported that he put on his foggles (frosted glasses designed to limit the pilot's view of everything external to the cockpit), and continued the flight at 3,000 feet MSL, on a heading of 268 degrees. The pilot stated that when they were about 10 miles from Smoketown, he descended to 1600 feet MSL, and changed radio frequency to monitor the traffic in the traffic pattern. He stated that during this period the safety pilot "...offered no comments or correction. I was anticipating his vectoring for crosswind entry to left downwind for the active r
Probable cause
the pilot's (PIC's) improper in-flight planning/decision concerning simulated instrument flight during the traffic pattern/descent; and failure of the safety pilot (other crewmember) to provide adequate visual lookout to see-and-avoid the obstruction.
More accidents in PA
- Boeing B-737-300, Sep 8, 1994
- Boeing 757, Sep 11, 2001
- British Aerospace J-3101, May 21, 2000
- Bell UH-1N, May 29, 2008
- Beech A36, Jul 30, 1989
Browse: Pennsylvania · 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.
