Piper PA-28-180 accident near Berne, NY
On July 25, 2011, a Piper PA-28-180 (airplane) was involved in an accident near Berne, NY. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: substantial.
- Date
- July 25, 2011
- Place
- Berne, NY
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-180 · Airplane
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Substantial
- Position
- 42.624°N, 74.022°W
- NTSB ID
- 20110725X05350
Official records · ERA11FA422
- Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On July 25, 2011, at 1900 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA28-180, N1279T, was substantially damaged during collision with trees and terrain while maneuvering near Berne, New York. The certificated private pilot/owner was fatally injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the flight that departed Griffiss International Airport (RME), Rome, New York, at 1820, and was destined for South Bethlehem Airport (4B0), Albany, New York. The personal flight was conducted under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. Witnesses near the site described hearing an airplane “low to the ground” as it approached them. They said it was in a left-wing-low attitude just prior to striking trees and disappearing from view. One witness said the engine was “really loud” and that the airplane appeared just above the trees, and just beneath the clouds that were “right on top of the trees. The New York State Police dispatched a helicopter to the scene immediately after the accident. According to the pilot, he approached the scene about 1,500 feet mean sea level, and chose to abort the mission about one-quarter mile prior to the crash site due to weather conditions. He said, "We were unable to access a position directly over the scene due to rising terrain and low clouds." Prior to returning to base, the pilot took photographs of the clouds that obscured the trees and terrain that surrounded the crash site. PERSONNEL INFORMATION According to Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) records, the pilot held a private pilot certificate with a rating for
Probable cause
The pilot's continued visual flight into instrument meteorological conditions, which resulted in a collision with trees and rising terrain while attempting to reverse course. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's failure to obtain a preflight weather briefing.
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Browse: New York · 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.
