JASPER, TN, USA
N588FL
PIPER PA-28-140
THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH A TREE DURING LOW ALTITUDE MANEUVERS OVER THE PLTS SISTER'S HOUSE. WITNESSES REPORTED THAT THE AIRPLANE INITIALLY MADE 1 OR 2 DESCENDING LEFT TURNS. THE BANK ANGLE INCREASED SIGNIFICANTLY AT LESS THAN 100 FT AGL, WHICH LED TO AN INCREASED DESCENT RATE. THE AIRPLANE SUBSEQUENTLY COLLIDED WITH A 30 FT HIGH TREE LOCATED ON THE SOUTH END OF A NORTH-SOUTH ORIENTED ROW OF TREES, WHILE ON A NORTHERLY HDG. THE BANK ANGLE AT THE TIME OF IMPACT WAS BETWEEN 45 & 60 DEGREES. EXAM OF THE WRECKAGE REVEALED NO EVIDENCE OF PRE-EXISTING MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION OR FAILURE. A NEPHEW OF THE PLT REPORTED THAT THE PLT HAD PERFORMED LOW ALTITUDE TURN MANEUVERS OVER HOUSE ON PRIOR OCCASIONS WHICH CULMUNATED IN PULL-UPS NEAR GROUND LEVEL. POST- MORTEM EXAM OF THE PLT BY A PATHOLOGIST REVEALED NO EVIDENCE OF ANY CONDITION WHICH MAY HAVE BEEN CAUSALLY RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT.
THE PILOT'S IMPROPER HANDLING OF THE AIRPLANE FLIGHT CONTROLS AT LOW ALTITUDE WHICH RESULTED IN AN EXCESSIVE RATE OF DESCENT AND COLLISION WITH A TREE.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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