Piper PA-32R-301 accident near Harlan, KY
On March 22, 2004, a Piper PA-32R-301 (airplane) was involved in an accident near Harlan, KY. 6 people died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- March 22, 2004
- Place
- Harlan, KY
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-32R-301 · Airplane
- Injuries
- 6 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 36.840°N, 83.320°W
- NTSB ID
- 20040329X00383
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On March 21, 2004, about 2050 eastern standard time, a Piper PA-32R-301, N8173U, was destroyed when it impacted mountainous terrain, while in cruise flight near Harlan, Kentucky. The certificated private pilot and five passengers were fatally injured. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed near the accident site, for the flight that departed Darlington County Jetport (UDG), Darlington, South Carolina; destined for Blue Grass Airport (LEX), Lexington, Kentucky. No flight plan was filed for the personal flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. The pilot received a weather briefing from the Anderson, South Carolina Flight Service Station (FSS), and departed UDG at 1901. Review of air traffic control (ATC) communications and radar data revealed that the flight proceeded uneventfully on a northwesterly heading from UDG, to the Tri-Cities Regional Airport (TRI) airspace. The pilot contacted Tri-Cities Approach Control, requested transition through the airspace, and reported descending from 10,000 feet to 4,500 feet. The controller acknowledged the transmission, assigned a transponder code, and provided flight following services through the airspace. After transitioning through the airspace, ATC terminated services about 2041. The pilot acknowledged the cancellation of services and change in transponder code. The last radar target return was recorded at 2048:43, with no altitude recorded. However, an altitude of 4,500 feet was recorded on the previous radar target return, at 2148:24. The position of the last target return was approximately 6 miles southeast
Probable cause
The pilot's improper decision to continue VFR flight into IMC conditions and his failure to maintain terrain clearance, which resulted in controlled flight into terrain. Factors were night, snow and a low ceiling.
More accidents in KY
- Bombardier, Inc. CRJ-100, Aug 27, 2006
- Piper PA-31T2, Feb 17, 1982
- Cessna 401A, Aug 28, 2006
- Piper PA-32R-301T, Apr 3, 1988
- Piper PA-32R-300, May 21, 1990
Browse: Kentucky · 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.
