Piper PA-28-181 accident near Provincetown, MA
On September 1, 2011, a Piper PA-28-181 (airplane) was involved in an accident near Provincetown, MA. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- September 1, 2011
- Place
- Provincetown, MA
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-181 · Airplane
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 1 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 42.068°N, 70.224°W
- NTSB ID
- 20110901X34119
Official records · ERA11FA480
- Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On August 31, 2011, about 2240 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-28-181, N6249C, was destroyed when it impacted trees and terrain shortly after departure from Provincetown Municipal Airport (PVC), Provincetown, Massachusetts. The certificated private pilot was fatally injured and the passenger was seriously injured. Dark night visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the flight, which was presumed to be destined for Falmouth Airpark (5B6), Falmouth, Massachusetts. The personal flight was operated under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. Several flight crew members of a U.S. Coast Guard helicopter witnessed the accident and recounted a similar series of events during separate telephone interviews. According to the flight crew, they were returning from a mission when, while passing PVC, they heard a faint radio transmission from an aircraft “departing to the west.” Even though the radio was tuned to the common traffic advisory frequency at PVC, they were uncertain if the transmission originated from PVC as another nearby airport utilized the same radio frequency. The crew subsequently announced that they were about 3 miles northwest of the airport, and shortly thereafter observed an alert on the traffic collision avoidance system (TCAS). The TCAS target's altitude was not reported, but shortly thereafter one pilot of the crew observed the accident airplane on runway 25 at PVC. The other pilot visually acquired the accident airplane as it was taking off from runway 25. He initially saw the airpl
Probable cause
The pilot’s failure to maintain adequate clearance from trees and terrain during the initial climb. Contributing was spatial disorientation due to a vestibular illusion and the pilot’s likely impairment due to alcohol consumption.
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Browse: Massachusetts · 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.
