Piper PA-30 accident near Goldsboro, NC
On December 28, 1996, a Piper PA-30 (airplane) was involved in an accident near Goldsboro, NC. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- December 28, 1996
- Place
- Goldsboro, NC
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-30 · Airplane
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 35.369°N, 77.971°W
- NTSB ID
- 20001208X07206
Official records · MIA97FA049
- Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation
Air traffic control records
- Transcript of Radio Communications: Transcript (PDF), on ntsb.gov
- ATC Personnel Statements: Document (PDF), on ntsb.gov
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On December 28, 1996, about 1027 eastern standard time (EST), a Piper PA-30, N8220Y, registered to a private owner, operating as a 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight, crashed during an instrument approach to Seymour Johnson A.F.B. Goldsboro, North Carolina. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed and an IFR flight plan was filed. The airplane was destroyed and the commercial pilot was fatally injured. The flight originated from Baltimore, Maryland, about 2 hours 41 minutes before the accident. Review of communication between N8220Y, Baltimore Tower, and Andrew ATCT (T-1) revealed N8220Y was cleared for a VFR takeoff at 1246 UTC (0746 EST). N8220Y contacted T-1 at 1254, reported he was level at 1200 feet, and informed the controller that he would be landing at Potomac Airpark, Maryland (VKX). The 1241 Andrew's (ADW) weather was: wind 170 at 6 knots, visibility 1 mile, measured ceiling 200 overcast, temperature 04, dewpoint 04, altimeter 30.02, and tower visibility was less than 1/2 mile. N8220Y advised T-1 at 1254:56 that he wanted to over fly the area southbound. N8220Y was issued a special VFR clearance and was asked what his flight conditions were. He informed the controller that he was in the clear, in between cloud layers, and that he could take an IFR clearance. At 1257:00, N8220Y advised the controller that he was trying to go to VKX to get gas, but if he could not get in due to weather conditions, he might have to keep flying south. T-1 advised N8220Y to continue special VFR and asked for the destination airport. N8220Y informed the controller th
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to follow instrument approach procedures during numerous instrument approaches and missed approaches which resuled in a total loss of engine power on both engines due to fuel exhaustion. Factors contributing to the accident were: the pilot's failure to obtain a weather briefing prior to his departure and his lack of recent instrument flight experience.
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Browse: North Carolina · 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.