Piper PA-30 accident near Biglerville, PA
On December 26, 2013, a Piper PA-30 (airplane) was involved in an accident near Biglerville, PA. 2 people died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- December 26, 2013
- Place
- Biglerville, PA
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-30 · Airplane
- Injuries
- 2 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 39.969°N, 77.229°W
- NTSB ID
- 20131226X82929
Official records · ERA14FA077
- Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation
Air traffic control records
- ATC Radar Track: Document (PDF), on ntsb.gov
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHTOn December 26, 2013, about 0530 eastern standard time, a Piper PA-30, N8372Y, was destroyed following an inflight break up, and impact with terrain near Biglerville, Pennsylvania. Night visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the flight. The certificated private pilot and passenger were fatally injured. The personal flight was conducted under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. The flight originated from Bloomsburg Municipal Airport (N13), Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania, around 0445, with an intended destination of Summerville Airport (DYB), Summerville, South Carolina. According to witnesses, the airplane was flying "low" and the engine noise was "loud." One witness reported that he heard the engine "miss" once, then the engine "revved up," and a few seconds later he heard the sound of impact. Another witness stated that when he heard the engine "spike."Radar tracking data that was obtained from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Harrisburg Approach Control Radar facility located in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. The radar data indicated that, the airplane was flying on a southwesterly heading at an altitude around 10,000 feet mean sea level (msl). Then around 0525, the airplane descended to 7,400 feet msl. At 0527 the airplane entered a left turn and descended. A few seconds later the radar target completed a 180 degree turn and the data indicated a 2,000 foot per minute descent and a 7.5 degrees per second turn rate. The last radar data, located in/near the accident location indicated that the
Probable cause
The noninstrument-rated pilot's spatial disorientation after inadvertently encountering instrument meteorological conditions at night and his subsequent loss of airplane control.
More accidents in PA
- Boeing B-737-300, Sep 8, 1994
- Boeing 757, Sep 11, 2001
- British Aerospace J-3101, May 21, 2000
- Bell UH-1N, May 29, 2008
- Beech A36, Jul 30, 1989
Browse: Pennsylvania · 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.
