Piper PA-28-160 accident near Parkton, NC

On December 16, 2012, a Piper PA-28-160 (airplane) was involved in an accident near Parkton, NC. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: substantial.

Date

December 16, 2012

Place

Parkton, NC

Aircraft

Piper PA-28-160 · Airplane

Injuries

1 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor

Damage

Substantial

Position

34.873°N, 78.952°W

NTSB ID

20121216X70057

Official records · ERA13FA088

• Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation

Air traffic control records

• ATC 3 - Factual Report of Group Chairman: Document (PDF), on ntsb.gov
• ATC 3 - Chronological Summary of Flight Communications and Transcription of Communications: Transcript (PDF), on ntsb.gov
• ATC 3 - FAY ATCT Daily Record of Facility Operation: Document (PDF), on ntsb.gov
• ATC 3 - Flight Progress Strip: Document (PDF), on ntsb.gov
• ATC 3 - Flight Plan: Document (PDF), on ntsb.gov

NTSB summary

HISTORY OF FLIGHT On December 16, 2012, about 1532 eastern standard time, a Piper PA-28-160, N5714W, registered to and operated by a private individual, crashed in a wooded area near Parkton, North Carolina. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and an instrument flight rules (IFR) plan was filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91 personal flight from Summerville Airport (DYB), Summerville, South Carolina, to Fayetteville Regional Airport/Grannis Field (FAY), Fayetteville, North Carolina. The airplane sustained substantial damage and the private pilot, the sole occupant, was fatally injured. The flight originated from DYB about 1400. The pilot departed VFR and at 1412, he established contact with Charleston air traffic control tower (ATCT) and was issued a discrete IFR transponder code. About 1 minute later the airplane was radar identified, the pilot was issued IFR clearance, and instructed to climb and maintain 5,000 feet which he acknowledged. While proceeding towards the destination airport, air traffic control (ATC) communications were transferred to Shaw Air Force Base Approach, followed by Fayetteville Approach Control. According to a transcription of communications with Fayetteville Air Traffic Control Tower, at 1451:41, the pilot established contact with the radar controller of the East Radar position of Fayetteville ATCT, and advised the controller that the flight was at 5,000 feet mean sea level (msl). The radar controller instructed the pilot to advise when he had automated terminal information service (ATIS) Alpha, and to

Probable cause

The failure of the instrument-rated pilot to maintain control of the airplane while in instrument meteorological conditions after reporting a gyro malfunction. Contributing to the accident was the loss of primary gyro flight instruments due to the failure of the vacuum pump, the inadequate assistance provided by FAA ATC personnel, and the inadequate recurrent training of FAA ATC personnel in recog

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Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.