Piper PA-34-220T accident near Tafton, PA
On June 25, 2006, a Piper PA-34-220T (airplane) was involved in an accident near Tafton, PA. 3 people died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- June 25, 2006
- Place
- Tafton, PA
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-34-220T · Airplane
- Injuries
- 3 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 41.416°N, 75.193°W
- NTSB ID
- 20060712X00926
Official records · NYC06FA155
- Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation
Air traffic control records
- Raleigh AFSS Transcript: Transcript (PDF), on ntsb.gov
- Wiles-Barre Air Traffic Control Transcript: Transcript (PDF), on ntsb.gov
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On June 25, 2006, about 1250 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-34-220T, N8371X, was destroyed when it impacted terrain, after an in-flight break up near Tafton, Pennsylvania. The certificated private pilot, a pilot rated passenger, and a second passenger were fatally injured. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed and an instrument flight rules (IFR) flight plan was filed for the flight that departed Piedmont Triad International Airport (GSO), Greensboro, North Carolina, destined for the Sanford Regional Airport (SFM), Sanford, Maine. The personal flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. The pilot was flying to Maine with his father, a retired airline pilot, who was seated in the right front seat, and his sister seated in a rear seat. According to information obtained from Lockheed Martin Services, Inc., at 0641, the pilot contacted the Miami automated international flight service station by telephone, to obtain an abbreviated briefing for the flight. At 0931, the pilot obtained an updated weather briefing from the Raleigh automated flight service station (AFSS). The pilot and the weather briefer discussed thunderstorm activity along the route of the flight, and the pilot subsequently filed an IFR flight plan. According to information obtained from the FAA, the airplane departed GSO, about 1023, and progressed toward SFM without incident. The pilot made initial contact with Wilkes-Barre air traffic control (ATC), Avoca, Pennsylvania, about 1229, at an altitude of 7,000 feet, and a ground speed of 180 knots. At 1233, ATC informed the pilot of an a
Probable cause
The pilot's inadvertent encounter with a thunderstorm, which resulted in a loss of aircraft control, and a subsequent in-flight breakup.
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.
