LEESBURG, VA, USA
N4325V
PIPER PA-28-161
THE PLT WAS ON A ROUND ROBIN FLT FROM LEESBURG, VA, WITH EN ROUTE STOPS AT FREDERICK, MD & WINCHESTER, VA. AFTER AN APRX 4 HR STOPOVER AT WINCHESTER, HE DID NOT UPDATE HIS WX BRIEFING BEFORE DEPG ON THE RTRN TRIP TO LEESBURG. WHILE ON THE RTRN FLT, HE HAD TO DSCND DUE TO A LOWER CEILING. HE STATED THAT HE PERFORMED A 180 DEG TURN TO RETURN TO WINCHESTER; HOWEVER, THE WX IN THAT DRCTN HAD ALSO DETERIORATED. BEING CONCERNED ABOUT THE WX & HIS LOW FUEL STATE, HE ELECTED TO REVERSE COURSE AGAIN & CONT TO HIS ORIGINAL DESTN (LEESBURG). THE WX CONTD TO DETERIORATE, SO HE THEN ELECTED TO LAND ON A HIGHWAY (ROUTE 15). DRG THE LANDING ROLL-OUT, THE LEFT WING CONTACTED ROAD REFLECTORS & A POLE, DAMAGING THE ACFT.
IMPROPER PLANNING/DECISION BY THE PILOT WHICH RESULTED IN HIS INADVERTENT FLIGHT INTO INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS (IMC), AND HIS FAILURE TO MAINTAIN PROPER ALIGNMENT, WHILE LANDING AT NIGHT ON A ROAD. THE WEATHER CONDITIONS, DARK NIGHT, AND POLE/REFLECTORS BESIDE THE ROAD WERE CONSIDERED TO BE CONTRIBUTING FACTORS.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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