Aviation Accident Summaries

Aviation Accident Summary ATL89FA174

SPRINGFIELD, TN, USA

Aircraft #1

N7554Y

PIPER PA-30

Analysis

PLT RECEIVED A FULL WEATHER BRIEFING FOR AN IFR FLT AT 7,000 FEET WHICH INCLUDED FORECASTED THUNDERSTORMS ALONG ROUTE OF FLT. A CONVECTIVE SIGMET WAS ALSO IN EFFECT FOR ROUTE OF FLIGHT. IN THE AREA OF SPRINGFIELD, TN, THE FLT WAS OBSERVED ON RADAR TO BE APPROACHING AN AREA OF PRECIPITATION, AND THE PLT STATED IT WAS GETTING 'A LITTLE ROUGH'. DEVIATION AROUND THE WEATHER AND AN ALTITUDE CHANGE, IF NECESSARY, WAS APPROVED BY THE CONTROLLER. A FEW MINUTES LATER THE FLT WAS ADVISED IT WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF A WEATHER AREA AND THAT ADDITIONAL WEATHER AREAS WERE AHEAD. THE FLT WAS LOST FROM RADAR SHORTLY AFTER THIS. WITNESSES REPORTED SEEING THE ACFT COME OUT OF AREA OF LIGHTNING AND THUNDER IN A 70 DEGREE NOSE LOW ATTITUDE.

Probable Cause and Findings

THE PILOT'S DECISION TO CONTINUE FLIGHT INTO AN AREA OF KNOWN ADVERSE WEATHER WHICH RESULTED IN HIS ABILITY TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE. CONTRIBUTING FACTOR(S) WAS: THE ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS.

 

Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database

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