Piper PA-28R-180 accident near Bethel, NC
On January 14, 2001, a Piper PA-28R-180 (airplane) was involved in an accident near Bethel, NC. 2 people died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- January 14, 2001
- Place
- Bethel, NC
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28R-180 · Airplane
- Injuries
- 2 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 35.636°N, 77.386°W
- NTSB ID
- 20010122X00337
NTSB summary
HISTORY 0F FLIGHT On January 14, 2001, about 1825 eastern standard time, a Piper PA-28R-180, N3996T, registered to an individual, struck wires and impacted with the ground while performing the published procedure turn for an ILS approach to the Pitt/Greenville Airport (PGV), Bethel, North Carolina. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed at the time. An instrument flight rules (IFR) flight plan was filed for the approach. The personal flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. The airplane was destroyed. The private-rated pilot and one passenger were fatally injured. The flight had originated from Tifton, Georgia, at 1600. The flight departed Tifton, en route to Greenville, North Carolina, without a flight plan, or incident, until 1803:13, when the pilot of N3996T made initial radio contact with the FAA Washington, air route traffic control center (ARTCC), New Bern (R25) sector, thirty miles southwest of Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, North Carolina. The pilot filed and was given an IFR clearance to descend to 3,000 feet from 5,500 feet msl, and proceed to Alwood, the IAF (initial approach fix) for the ILS runway 20 approach. The flight was cleared for the approach, via the published procedure turn. The minimum altitude for the procedure turn was 1,600 feet. According to the Air Traffic Control (ATC) summary of flight, at 1804, the pilot of N3996T informed R25 of his position and that he would like the ILS to PGV. The controller instructed the pilot of N3996T to contact the controller at Seymour Johnson Approach control (GSB) for an IFR clearance inbound. The GSB co
Probable cause
the pilot's failure to maintain control of the airplane due to spatial disorientation, which resulted in an in-flight collision with power lines and the subsequent impact with terrain. A factor in this accident was: the pilot's 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.
