Piper PA-28-140 accident near Niles, MI
On March 8, 2002, a Piper PA-28-140 (airplane) was involved in an accident near Niles, MI. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- March 8, 2002
- Place
- Niles, MI
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-140 · Airplane
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 41.817°N, 86.217°W
- NTSB ID
- 20020924X05206
Official records · CHI02FA088
- Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation
Air traffic control records
- ATC Transmission Provided By FAA: Document (PDF), on ntsb.gov
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On March 7, 2002, at 2322 eastern standard time, a Piper PA-28-140, N5246T, piloted by a private pilot, was destroyed on impact with terrain approximately 1.4 statute miles (sm) southeast of Jerry Tyler Memorial Airport (3TR), Niles, Michigan. Night instrument meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight was not operating on a flight plan. The pilot was fatally injured. The flight originated from 3TR en route to Vermillion County Airport, Danville (DNV), Illinois. The pilot and an instrument rated pilot passenger departed DNV en route to 3TR so that the passenger could pick up his airplane, N61626. While en route, they encountered instrument flight rule (IFR) conditions in the South Bend, Indiana, area. They requested and obtained an IFR clearance to the South Bend Regional Airport (SBN), South Bend, Indiana, so as to land and obtain instrument approach chart for 3TR. They filed an IFR flight plan and departed SBN en route to 3TR during which time the passenger reported that he was acting as pilot-in-command of the flight. The passenger executed two instrument approaches before landing. At 2205, N5246T was cleared for the VOR 3 approach to 3TR. At 2214, N5246T reported a missed approach and requested the VOR 21 instrument approach. The passenger reported that the first approach ended in a missed approach because of a deer on the runway. At 2221, N5246T was cleared for the VOR 21 approach. At 2223, N5246T was recleared for the VOR 21 approach. At 2225, N5246T was advised to switch to advisory frequency
Probable cause
Flight into known adverse weather conditions by the pilot and the spatial disorientation of pilot. Contributing factors were the lack of certification by the pilot and the weather conditions.
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Browse: Michigan · 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.
