Piper PA-28-180 accident near Conesus, NY
On April 12, 2003, a Piper PA-28-180 (airplane) was involved in an accident near Conesus, NY. 3 people died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- April 12, 2003
- Place
- Conesus, NY
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-180 · Airplane
- Injuries
- 3 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 42.681°N, 77.616°W
- NTSB ID
- 20030423X00555
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On April 12, 2003, about 1600 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-28-180, N8985J, was destroyed when it impacted trees near Conesus, New York. The certificated flight instructor, private pilot receiving instruction, and passenger were fatally injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the instructional flight that departed the Dansville Municipal Airport (DSV), Dansville New York, about 1515. A flight plan was not filed, and the flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. According to a witness, the airplane was operated by a local flying club, and the pilot was being evaluated by the instructor in order to be authorized to utilize the airplane. Two of the maneuvers planned for the flight were "power on" and "power off" stalls. In addition, the passenger had completed a similar evaluation earlier in the afternoon with a different instructor, and had gone on the accident flight for additional familiarization. According to a witness that was outside and within 1/2 mile of the accident site, the engine noise increased, and the airplane pitched up to the point that the witness thought the pilot was attempting a loop. The pitch up stopped, and the left wing dropped. The airplane rolled inverted and completed five "spirals," before impacting the ground. The witness added that he heard the engine "completely stop" about the third "spiral." A review of radar data revealed a target near the accident site about the time of the accident. The target was maintaining a constant altitude of 3,400 feet msl, a constant groundspeed of 100 knots, and heading 170 de
Probable cause
The flight instructor's failure to maintain adequate airspeed which resulted in an inadvertent spin.
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Browse: New York · 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.
