Piper PA32 accident near Raleigh, NC
On October 20, 2019, a Piper PA32 (airplane) was involved in an accident near Raleigh, NC. 2 people died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- October 20, 2019
- Place
- Raleigh, NC
- Aircraft
- Piper PA32 · Airplane
- Injuries
- 2 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 35.854°N, 78.758°W
- NTSB ID
- 20191021X13706
Official records · ERA20FA014
- Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation
Air traffic control records
- ATC Voice Communications With N534z: Document (WAV), on ntsb.gov
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHTOn October 20, 2019, about 1921 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-32-301, N534Z, was destroyed when it was involved in an accident near Raleigh, North Carolina. The private pilot and one passenger were fatally injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91 personal flight. The flight was destined for Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU), Morrisville, North Carolina. Air traffic control data provided by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) revealed that, at 1825, the pilot checked in with RDU north departure radar (NDR) at 5,000 ft msl and requested the area navigation (RNAV) GPS runway 5R approach to RDU. He was told to expect the RNAV GPS runway 32 approach instead. The pilot reported that he was already set up for the runway 5R approach; however, he would comply and set up for the runway 32 approach. At 1839, NDR cleared the pilot for the RNAV GPS runway 32 approach. At 1850, NDR advised the pilot to contact RDU tower, local control east (LCE). The pilot then checked in with the LCE controller and advised that he was “…on the 32 approach.” The LCE controller cleared the flight to land. At 1852, the pilot advised LCE that he needed to climb because his GPS approach just shut off. LCE instructed the pilot to maintain 3,000 ft msl and confirm his heading, and the pilot complied. The LCE controller asked the pilot twice if he was in IMC, and the pilot responded affirmatively the second time and said he was trying to climb over it. At 1854, the LCE controller advised the pilot to contact RDU approach and f
Probable cause
The pilot’s failure to maintain a safe glidepath during final approach to the runway, which resulted in a collision with trees and terrain. Contributing was the pilot’s lack of recent instrument flight experience.
More accidents in NC
- Douglas DC-9-31, Jul 2, 1994
- Beech 1900D, Jan 8, 2003
- Pilatus Aircraft Ltd PC-12/47E, Feb 13, 2022
- Cessna 550, Dec 18, 2025
- Beech D55, Jan 9, 1983
Browse: North Carolina · 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.
