Piper PA-32RT-300T accident near Pelham, AL
On December 8, 1999, a Piper PA-32RT-300T (airplane) was involved in an accident near Pelham, AL. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- December 8, 1999
- Place
- Pelham, AL
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-32RT-300T · Airplane
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 33.301°N, 86.790°W
- NTSB ID
- 20001212X20276
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On December 8, 1999, about 1717 central standard time, a Piper PA-32RT-300T, N39696, registered to a private individual, operating as a Title 14 Part 91 personal flight, crashed while maneuvering near Pelham, Alabama. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The airplane was destroyed by impact and postcrash fire and the student pilot, the sole occupant, received fatal injuries. The flight departed Bessemer Airport, Bessemer, Alabama, at some time after 1630. According to a witness, an FAA licensed pilot, between 1715 and 1725 he heard the airplane fly overhead his residence at a "much too low" altitude and at an "over revved" power setting on an easterly heading in a descent. As he ran onto his back porch, he noted the weather had deteriorated with fog and drizzle, and the ridge line east of his house was becoming obscured. He and his wife heard an impact, and saw the glow of a fire near the ridge line. He immediately called 911. He stated he heard no sounds of engine instability or malfunction. Other witness statements recounted that the engine sounds were of a smoothly running engine. See witness reports, attachments to this report. PERSONAL INFORMATION The pilot's flight logbook was not recovered, however, at the time of his application for a third class medical /student pilot certificate, on June 6, 1999, he listed his flight time as 300 hours, with 50 hours in the last 6 months. The pilot had on his person, a student pilot's license with a PA-32RT endorsement dated "7/1" by a CFI. Federal Air Regulation 61.87 state
Probable cause
The student pilot's decision to continue the visual flight rules flight into deteriorating visibility, and his failure to maintain altitude clearance with the terrain.
More accidents in AL
- Beech C99, Jul 10, 1991
- Cessna 421A, Jun 22, 1983
- Cessna 421C, Jul 9, 2011
- Piper PA 31, Aug 14, 2016
- Beech 95-B55B, Dec 5, 1992
Browse: Alabama · 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.
