Piper PA-28-236 accident near Orting, WA
On December 7, 2007, a Piper PA-28-236 (airplane) was involved in an accident near Orting, WA. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: substantial.
- Date
- December 7, 2007
- Place
- Orting, WA
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-236 · Airplane
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Substantial
- Position
- 47.068°N, 122.101°W
- NTSB ID
- 20071219X01977
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On December 6, 2007, approximately 1810 Pacific standard time, a Piper PA-28-236 airplane, N4388P, sustained substantial damage when it collided with trees and terrain while maneuvering near Orting, Washington. The commercial pilot, the sole occupant of the airplane, was killed. Dark night visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the Title 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight operated by the pilot. The local flight originated from Crest Airpark (S36), Kent, Washington, about 1800 with an intended destination of Pierce County Airport / Thun Field (PLU), Puyallup, Washington. During an interview, a friend of the pilot reported that the pilot had told him that he was going to fly to S36 to receive flight instruction from a local Certified Flight Instructor (CFI) and then return to PLU. In a written statement from the CFI that flew with the pilot prior to the accident flight, he reported that the pilot wanted to practice a few instrument approaches utilizing the autopilot followed by some night landings. The CFI and pilot departed S36 and conducted a "few" instrument approaches at the Tacoma Narrows Airport (TIW), Tacoma, Washington, and on the return leg to S36, conducted a few landings at the Auburn Municipal Airport (S50), Auburn, Washington. The CFI added that upon returning to S36, the pilot exhibited "good judgment" by initiating a go-around due to being high during the approach to landing. They completed the flight around 1730. A family member of the pilot reported to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) on December 9,
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from trees while maneuvering. A contributing factor was the dark night.
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Browse: Washington · 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.
