Accident Piper PA-28-140 N5934U,
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ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 39975
 
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Date:Thursday 18 January 1996
Time:17:45 LT
Type:Silhouette image of generic P28A model; specific model in this crash may look slightly different    
Piper PA-28-140
Owner/operator:Ezra M. Sheffres
Registration: N5934U
MSN: 2826827
Total airframe hrs:5691 hours
Engine model:Lycoming O-320-D3G
Fatalities:Fatalities: 1 / Occupants: 1
Aircraft damage: Destroyed
Category:Accident
Location:Harwich, MA -   United States of America
Phase: En route
Nature:Private
Departure airport:Chatham, MA (KCQX)
Destination airport:
Investigating agency: NTSB
Confidence Rating: Accident investigation report completed and information captured
Narrative:
The non-instrument rated pilot departed on a local flight under VFR conditions. About 1.7 hours after departure, witnesses observed the airplane flying south towards the shore line in and out of clouds, about 700 feet above the ground. The airplane turned east when it reached the shore line, paralleled the coast, and reentered the clouds. The airplane was found submerged in water, 1 mile further east. Examination of the wreckage revealed no pre-impact failure of the airframe or engine. The departure airport weather was IFR until 1200, and the pilot departed about 1400, under a 12,000 foot ceiling and 10 miles visibility. The airport weather returned to a 200 foot ceiling and 3/4 mile visibility, about 1500. There was no record of the pilot obtaining a weather briefing or filing a flight plan.

Probable Cause: the pilot's improper in-flight decision to continue flight under visual flight rules, while flying into instrument meteorological conditions. Also causal was the pilot's failure to maintain control of the airplane after entering IMC, which resulted in the subsequent collision with the water. A factor in this accident was that the pilot was not instrument rated.

Accident investigation:
cover
  
Investigating agency: NTSB
Report number: NYC96FA052
Status: Investigation completed
Duration: 5 months
Download report: Final report

Sources:

NTSB NYC96FA052

Revision history:

Date/timeContributorUpdates
24-Oct-2008 10:30 ASN archive Added
21-Dec-2016 19:23 ASN Update Bot Updated [Time, Damage, Category, Investigating agency]
09-Apr-2024 08:30 ASN Update Bot Updated [Time, Operator, Other fatalities, Departure airport, Source, Narrative, Accident report]

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