Piper PA-32R-300 accident near Medford, MN
On August 26, 1996, a Piper PA-32R-300 (airplane) was involved in an accident near Medford, MN. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- August 26, 1996
- Place
- Medford, MN
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-32R-300 · Airplane
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 44.171°N, 93.239°W
- NTSB ID
- 20001208X06429
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On August 26, 1996, at 1032 central daylight time, a Piper PA-32R-300, N7133C, was destroyed on impact with the terrain and a post accident fire near Medford, Minnesota. The pilot reported a vacuum failure during cruise flight at 5,000 feet. The pilot sustained fatal injuries. The personal 14 CFR Part 91 flight was operating in instrument meteorological conditions. An IFR flight plan was on file. The flight departed Eden Prairie, Minnesota, at 1005, with the intended destination of Davenport, Iowa. The owner of the airplane stated that on the day of the accident the airplane was operated from Davenport, Iowa, to Eden Prairie, Minnesota, arriving about 0930. He said that the airplane operated without incident during that flight. He said that after the passengers were deplaned, the pilot departed between 1000 and 1010. At 1024:25, while cruising at 5,000 mean sea level (msl) the pilot of N7133C, reported to the Rochester (MN) Air Traffic Control Tower (ATCT), Approach Control, "I've got a vacuum system that's going out on me here. I'm having a little trouble holding my headings. I wonder if you could give me a little help here." The controller continued to issue headings and cleared the airplane to descend to 3,000 msl for the next five minutes. The pilot indicated that he was experiencing instrument meteorological conditions and was requesting a descent to visual meteorological conditions. During the radio transmissions from the pilot, he made reference to being "still in it" twice. The last known transmission received from the pilot was at 1029:51, when he
Probable cause
failure of the pilot to maintain control of the airplane, due to spatial disorientation. Factors relating to the accident were: failure of the (primary) vacuum system and a restriction in the (standby) vacuum system.
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Browse: Minnesota · 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.
