Piper PA-32R-301 accident near Byhalia, MS
On September 8, 2001, a Piper PA-32R-301 (airplane) was involved in an accident near Byhalia, MS. 2 people died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- September 8, 2001
- Place
- Byhalia, MS
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-32R-301 · Airplane
- Injuries
- 2 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 34.784°N, 89.759°W
- NTSB ID
- 20010918X01960
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On September 8, 2001, at 1554 central daylight time, a Piper PA-32R-301, N8398Z, experienced an in-flight break-up while maneuvering near a thunderstorm in Byhalia, Mississippi. The airplane was registered to Midwest Corporate Air, and operated by the private pilot under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91, and visual flight rules. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the cross country flight to Romeoville, Illinois. The pilot and passenger sustained fatal injuries and the airplane was destroyed. The flight originated from Panola County Airport in Batesville, Mississippi, at 1540. According to witnesses, when they observed the airplane it was in level flight below the clouds. They said that as they observed the airplane they saw the left wing separate and strike the tail section. The main fuselage came to rest less then a half mile from their location in a bean field with debris falling and nearly striking the witnesses. The witnesses stated that there was lightning to the north and that the weather in their location was windy but there was no rain or thunderstorms in their area at the time of the accident. Examination of radar data provided by the Memphis, Tennessee Air Traffic Control Tower revealed that between 15:42:02 and 15:53:01 the airplane made about seven altitude, airspeed and heading changes. The most significant occurred between 15:52:43 and 15:53:01. Within this 18 second time frame, the airplane descended from 7,700 feet above ground level (AGL) to 3,900 feed AGL and slowed to 41 knots airspeed.
Probable cause
The pilot's improper evaluation of weather conditions which lead to an inflight encounter with turbulent weather resulting in an in flight break up of the airframe, and subsequent uncontrolled descent into terrain. A factor was the pilot's drug impairment.
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Browse: Mississippi · 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.
