Piper PA-28-140 accident near Heflin, AL
On December 25, 2009, a Piper PA-28-140 (airplane) was involved in an accident near Heflin, AL. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: substantial.
- Date
- December 25, 2009
- Place
- Heflin, AL
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-140 · Airplane
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Substantial
- Position
- 33.711°N, 85.612°W
- NTSB ID
- 20091225X82753
Official records · ERA10FA099
- Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On December 24, 2009, about 2200 central standard time (CST), a Piper PA-28-140, N1277T, was substantially damaged when it impacted terrain in Heflin, Alabama. The certificated student pilot was fatally injured. Marginal visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. The personal flight originated at St. Clair County Airport (PLR), Pell City, Alabama and was destined for Cobb County-McCollum Field (RYY), Atlanta, Georgia. The flight was conducted under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. Information provided by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and Lockheed Martin Flight Service revealed the student pilot had not contacted either entity to obtain a weather briefing or file a flight plan. According to the student pilot's girlfriend, the purpose of the flight was to visit her and her family in Atlanta for Christmas. The student pilot had originally planned the flight for the following day, but decided to fly on the night prior instead. The student pilot’s girlfriend spoke with him while he was at PLR, between 2045 and 2145 CST, prior to his departure. She informed him that there was a high wind advisory for the Atlanta area and that the weather was “bad.” The student pilot responded to her “I’m a pilot.” He stated that it was windy, but not raining at PLR; however, she responded that it was raining hard at RYY. The student pilot expected to land at RYY around 2330 eastern standard time. When the airplane did not land by 0200 on December 25, 2009, the student pilot’s girlfriend notified authoritie
Probable cause
The student pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed during night, adverse weather conditions, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall/spin. Contributing to the accident was the student pilot's decision to attempt a flight that he was not qualified for and his decision to ignore known adverse weather conditions. Also contributing was the student pilot's impairment due to prescription medicatio
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Browse: Alabama · 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.
