Piper PA-24-260 accident near Panama City, FL
On March 27, 2000, a Piper PA-24-260 (airplane) was involved in an accident near Panama City, FL. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- March 27, 2000
- Place
- Panama City, FL
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-24-260 · Airplane
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 30.228°N, 85.720°W
- NTSB ID
- 20001212X20689
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On March 26, 2000, about 1813 central standard time, a Piper PA-24-260, N9204P, registered to a private individual, crashed into West Bay approximately 2.5 statute miles west-northwest of the Panama City-Bay County International Airport, Panama City, Florida. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed at the airport at the time of the accident and no flight plan was filed for the 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight. The airplane was destroyed and the private-rated pilot, the sole occupant was fatally injured. The flight last departed from the Frank Sikes Airport, Luverne, Alabama, at an undetermined time. The flight initially departed with full fuel tanks from the airport where the airplane was based (Walker County-Bevil Field Airport, Jasper, Alabama), and returned two times immediately after takeoff due to a discrepancy related to the landing gear warning system. The landing gear warning system was disconnected by the pilot and the flight departed a third time between 1300 and 1330; after takeoff the pilot reported the flight was departing the traffic pattern to the south. According to a transcription of communications with the Anniston, Alabama, Automated Flight Service Station (Anniston AFSS), the pilot twice phoned the facility on the day of the accident, the calls were received at 1552:22 and 1637:25 local. The caller advised at the beginning of both phone calls that he was on the ground in Luverne, it was raining, and he intended on flying to Panama City. He asked during both phone calls when the weather would, "blow over" and "blow through", respect
Probable cause
The pilot experiencing spatial disorientation while reversing course during a dark night while over water which resul;ted in an in-flight collision with water. A factor was the dark night lighting conditions.
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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.
