Piper PA-32RT-300 accident near Memphis, TN
On November 29, 2009, a Piper PA-32RT-300 (airplane) was involved in an accident near Memphis, TN. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: substantial.
- Date
- November 29, 2009
- Place
- Memphis, TN
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-32RT-300 · Airplane
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 3 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Substantial
- Position
- 35.042°N, 89.977°W
- NTSB ID
- 20091130X93025
Official records · ERA10LA082
- Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation
Air traffic control records
- ATC Transcript (excerpt): Transcript (PDF), on ntsb.gov
- ATC plot: Document (PDF), on ntsb.gov
- ATC Plot (2D view): Document (PDF), on ntsb.gov
- RDU Flight Service Station Transcript: Transcript (PDF), on ntsb.gov
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On November 29, 2009, at 1615 central standard time, a Piper PA-32RT-300, N9243C, was substantially damaged during landing at Memphis International Airport (MEM), Memphis, Tennessee. The certificated private pilot was fatally injured and three passengers received serious injuries. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed and an instrument flight rules flight plan was filed for the flight which originated at the Greenbrier Valley Airport (LWB), Lewisburg, West Virginia, at 1255 eastern standard time. The personal flight was conducted under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. According to air traffic control radar data and recorded voice communications provided by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the airplane entered Memphis Approach airspace at an altitude of 4,000 feet and was later cleared to 3,000 feet. The pilot was given an intercept heading and subsequently cleared for the ILS 18L approach at MEM. The airplane turned final at 3,000 feet and was subsequently cleared to 2,000 ft. Radar data indicated the airplane initially obtained the centerline for the 18L localizer; however, the airplane began to drift to the left soon after. The airplane maintained a parallel course, left of centerline, until glideslope interception. When the airplane was about 5 miles from the end of runway 18L, it began a descent from 1,900 feet, while remaining left of the localizer. The airplane continued its descent until it reached an altitude of 900 ft (approximately 560 AGL), 3.6 nm from the end of runway 18L. At this point the airplane
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to execute a timely missed approach and subsequent failure to maintain aircraft control, after he was unable to establish the airplane on the instrument approach. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's possible impairment due to his medical condition and/or medication use.
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Browse: Tennessee · 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.
