Piper PA-28-180 accident near Fort Pierce, FL
On February 14, 1998, a Piper PA-28-180 (airplane) was involved in an accident near Fort Pierce, FL. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- February 14, 1998
- Place
- Fort Pierce, FL
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-180 · Airplane
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 27.299°N, 80.490°W
- NTSB ID
- 20001211X09577
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On February 14, 1998, about 0833 eastern standard time, a Piper PA-28-180, N15091, registered to an individual, collided with electrical transmission lines near Fort Pierce, Florida, while on a Title 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed. The aircraft was destroyed and the private-rated pilot was fatally injured. The flight originated from Stuart, Florida, the same day, about 0816. A witness at Witham Field, Stuart, Florida, stated the pilot arrived at the airport about 1 hour before departure. He asked that the fuel tanks on the aircraft be filled, which took 29 gallons. The pilot was observed to go into the weather room several times, where they have available commercial computer weather services and telephones to the FAA Flight Service Stations. When the pilot was ready for departure they drove him to the aircraft which was parked in front of the maintenance hangar. Transcripts of recorded communications between the pilot of N15091 and air traffic Controllers at the FAA Witham Field Control Tower, Stuart, Florida, indicated the pilot called for taxi for takeoff at 0810. The pilot stated he was visual flight rules to Ocala, Florida. The pilot was instructed to taxi to runway 34. At 0814, the pilot reported to controllers that he was ready for takeoff. At 0815:18, the pilot was cleared for takeoff. At 0817:42, the pilot requested a left turn toward Okeechobee. The controller cleared him on course. No further transmissions were received from the aircraft. A witness, located 2
Probable cause
The pilot's continued visual flight rules into instrument flight rules conditions and his failure to maintain altitude after encountering instrument flight rules conditions resulting in the aircraft colliding with powerlines and crashing. A factor in the accident was the pilot's failure to obtain a full weather briefing prior to departure.
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Browse: Florida · 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.
