FERNANDINA BCH, FL, USA
N8346B
PIPER PA-28-161
THE STUDENT PLT DID NOT SET THE ALTIMETER TO THE FIELD ELEVATION BEFORE DEPARTURE. THE FLT DEPARTED, FLEW SOUTH ALONG THE COAST AT AN INDICATED ALTITUDE OF 500 FT, THEN TURNED LT TO RETURN, FLYING TOWARD THE ATLANTIC OCEAN. WHILE TURNING, THE AIRPLANE BEGAN DESCENDING WHICH THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO CORRECT BY APPLYING POWER, BUT THE AIRPLANE IMPACTED THE WATER. THE PILOT FURTHER STATED THAT THE ALTIMETER INDICATED 400 FEET AT IMPACT. ACCORDING TO THE OWNER OF THE AIRPLANE, THE PILOT HAD NOT RECEIVED INSTRUCTION IN NIGHT FLYING, DID NOT HAVE PERMISSION TO FLY THE AIRPLANE, NOR HAD HE RECEIVED TRAINING IN THIS MAKE AND MODEL AIRPLANE. THE PILOT FURTHER STATED THAT HE HAD NOT FLOWN IN THE PREVIOUS 6 MONTHS.
SPATIAL DISORIENTATION AND FAILURE OF THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND TO SET THE ALTIMETER TO THE FIELD ELEVATION PRIOR TO DEPARTURE. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE PILOT'S LACK OF TOTAL AND RECENT EXPERIENCE.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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