Piper PA-32-300 accident near Factoryville, PA
On August 8, 2003, a Piper PA-32-300 (airplane) was involved in an accident near Factoryville, PA. 2 people died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- August 8, 2003
- Place
- Factoryville, PA
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-32-300 · Airplane
- Injuries
- 2 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 41.591°N, 75.751°W
- NTSB ID
- 20030818X01348
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On August 8, 2003, at 0749 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-32-300 single-engine airplane, N6373C, was destroyed when it collided with trees, then terrain, while executing an instrument approach into Seaman's Airport (9N3), Factoryville, Pennsylvania. The certificated private pilot/co-owner and the passenger were fatally injured. An instrument flight rules flight plan was filed for the flight that originated at Pottstown-Limmerick Airport (PTW), Pottstown, Pennsylvania, about 0716. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed for the personal flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. A review of air traffic control communications revealed that the pilot was cleared for the VOR instrument approach into Seaman's Airport. A witness stated that the weather was foggy, with a visibility of less than 50 feet, when he heard the airplane fly over the airport with a low engine rpm. Shortly thereafter, he heard the airplane's engine increase to full power, followed by the sound of a loud crack, similar to lightning hitting a tree. A second witness, a certified airframe and power plant (A&P) mechanic, was also at the airport when he heard the sound of trees breaking, followed immediately by the airplane's engine going to full power. Shortly thereafter, he heard the sound of a crash. In addition, "when the engine powered up...there were no misses, no nothing." The witness described the weather at the time of the accident as foggy, with a forward visibility of less than 100 feet. A third witness, a certified flight instructor, was in her home located on airport property
Probable cause
The pilot's improper in-flight decision to descend below the published minimum descent altitude while executing a non-precision approach in instrument meteorological conditions, which resulted in collision with trees. A factor was the fog.
More accidents in PA
- Boeing B-737-300, Sep 8, 1994
- Boeing 757, Sep 11, 2001
- British Aerospace J-3101, May 21, 2000
- Bell UH-1N, May 29, 2008
- Beech A36, Jul 30, 1989
Browse: Pennsylvania · 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.
