Piper PA-31-350 accident near Waterford, MI

On December 5, 1998, a Piper PA-31-350 (airplane) was involved in an accident near Waterford, MI. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.

Date

December 5, 1998

Place

Waterford, MI

Aircraft

Piper PA-31-350 · Airplane

Injuries

1 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor

Damage

Destroyed

Position

42.661°N, 83.380°W

NTSB ID

20001211X11519

NTSB summary

HISTORY OF FLIGHT On December 4, 1998, at 2045 eastern standard time (est), a Piper PA-31-350, N59902, piloted by an airline transport pilot, was destroyed during a collision with trees, and a subsequent impact with the ground and a post-impact fire. The airplane was flying an instrument landing system (ILS) approach to runway 09R at the Pontiac/Oakland County International Airport, Pontiac, Michigan. The positioning flight was operating under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91, and was operating on an instrument flight rules (IFR) flight plan. The pilot was fatally injured. The flight departed Lansing, Michigan, exact time unknown. The pilot of N59902 contacted the Pontiac /Oakland county International Airport's air traffic control tower local controller (local control) at 2044:08 est. At that time the pilot said his airplane was "...established on the ILS." The local controller advised the pilot of the altimeter setting and advised the pilot that "...several aircraft have reported they can see the approach lights but it's real tough finding the runway lights." At 2044:34 the pilot said he would "...check it out for [the local controller]." The local controller gave N59902's pilot the runway wind conditions at 2044:36. The pilot's last transmission was, "Roger that nine oh two." This transmission was made at 2044:42. At 2048:13 the local controller asked N59902's pilot, "Navajo niner zero two you on the ground safely." There were no other transmissions from the pilot of N59902. A witness near the accident site said he heard airplanes "...coming in for... landing, heading eas

Probable cause

the pilot's descent below the decision height for the instrument approach.

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Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.