Piper PA-32-260 accident near Cruso, NC
On May 12, 2008, a Piper PA-32-260 (airplane) was involved in an accident near Cruso, NC. 2 people died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- May 12, 2008
- Place
- Cruso, NC
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-32-260 · Airplane
- Injuries
- 2 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 35.405°N, 82.845°W
- NTSB ID
- 20080521X00707
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On May 12, 2008, at 0533 eastern daylight time (EDT), a Piper PA-32-260, N64FP, collided with mountainous terrain near Cruso, North Carolina. The certificated private pilot and passenger were killed, and the airplane was destroyed. The flight was operated as a personal flight under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91, and no flight plan was filed. The flight departed Rutherford County Airport-Marchman Field (FQD), Rutherfordton, North Carolina, about 0500 with a planned destination of North Little Rock Municipal Airport (ORK), North Little Rock, Arkansas. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed in the vicinity of the accident. Review of radar data provided by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) revealed that at 0522, a target crossed over Asheville Regional Airport (AVL), North Carolina, on a westbound track at a mode C reported altitude of 9,200 feet. For the next 7 minutes, the target continued on the track and descended to 8,300 feet. During the next 2 minutes, the target entered a descending right turn, before continuing northwest at an altitude of 7,100 feet. The next radar return was observed 10 seconds later at an altitude of 6,100 feet. The target then began to track towards the southwest, and climbed to 6,300 feet. The target continued to descend for the last minute to the final return at 5,800 feet. The wreckage was located on the southern face of Cold Mountain, at an elevation of 4,700 feet, 0.6 miles west of the final radar return. According to the pilot's mother, who resided in Rutherfordton, the pilot departe
Probable cause
The pilot's inadequate preflight planning and inadvertent flight into instrument meteorological conditions with moderate to severe turbulence prevailing. Contributing to the accident were the instrument meteorological conditions and turbulence.
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Browse: North 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.
