Piper PA34 accident near Bennington, VT
On May 20, 2018, a Piper PA34 (airplane) was involved in an accident near Bennington, VT. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- May 20, 2018
- Place
- Bennington, VT
- Aircraft
- Piper PA34 · Airplane
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 42.924°N, 73.139°W
- NTSB ID
- 20180521X34505
Official records · ERA18FA148
- Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHTOn May 20, 2018, about 1423 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA34-200T, N1101X, was destroyed during impact with wooded mountainous terrain and a postcrash fire while maneuvering near Bennington, Vermont. The commercial pilot was fatally injured. The airplane was privately owned by the pilot who was operating it under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed near the accident site, and no flight plan was filed for the personal flight to Waterbury-Oxford Airport (OXC), Oxford, Connecticut. The flight originated from Burlington International Airport (BTV), Burlington, Vermont, about 1345. According to a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) designated pilot examiner (DPE) at BTV, the pilot had obtained a commercial pilot certificate and flight instructor certificate with multiengine land ratings on May 17 and May 19, respectively. They then reviewed weather together on May 19 for the pilot's return flight to his home airport, OXC, and the DPE advised the pilot to return on May 21 due to weather. The DPE stated that he was surprised to learn that the pilot attempted to return home on May 20. Review of air traffic control information from the FAA revealed that the pilot was receiving flight following from Albany Approach Control. The controller advised the pilot of the location of precipitation and mountainous terrain nearby. The controller subsequently solicited a pilot report from the pilot regarding cloud bases. The pilot reported that the cloud bases were at 3,000 ft; at that time, radar indica
Probable cause
The pilot's improper decision to attempt a visual flight rules flight in instrument meteorological conditions, which resulted in a loss of control during a turn.
More accidents in VT
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Browse: Vermont · 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.
