Piper PA-30 accident near Spartanburg, SC
On October 27, 2003, a Piper PA-30 (airplane) was involved in an accident near Spartanburg, SC. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- October 27, 2003
- Place
- Spartanburg, SC
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-30 · Airplane
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 34.900°N, 81.969°W
- NTSB ID
- 20031031X01843
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On October 26, 2003, at 2210 eastern standard time, a Piper PA-30, N7799Y, registered to and operated by Concept Displays LLC, collided with trees and the ground during approach to Spartanburg Downtown Memorial Airport, Spartanburg, South Carolina. The positioning flight was operated under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91 with an instrument flight plan filed. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed. The commercial pilot received fatal injuries, and the airplane was destroyed by impact and post-crash fire. The flight departed Evansville, Indiana, at 1900 central standard time on October 26, 2003. A review of air traffic control records revealed the pilot made his initial contact with the Greer [South Carolina] Approach controller at 2148:14. The pilot was provided the Greer altimeter setting and was instructed to expect the ILS [instrument landing system] runway 5 approach at Spartanburg Downtown Memorial Airport. The pilot acknowledged and stated, "we have the AWOS [automated weather observing system] at Spartanburg we'll expect the ILS to five." At 2149:39 the controller stated, "nine nine yankee area of weather eleven o'clock ten miles about three mile diameter even with most of my weather filtered out it's still showing up so I guess it's best to take you around it." The pilot stated, "okay that will be just fine I appreciate that." The controller provided vectors, and at 2152:37 the controller stated, "twin comanche nine nine yankee looks like you are passing the weather now turn left heading one six zero," and the pilot acknowledged. The
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to follow IFR procedures and descent below the glide path, which resulted in an inflight collision with trees during an instrument approach. A factor was the pilot's impairment due to the sedating effects of medication.
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Browse: South 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.
