Piper PA-28-180 (N7806W)
Fatal accident near Micanopy, Florida November 14, 2023, 14:09 EST · wooded terrain near Micanopy, FLSerious outcome
No survivors
Case summary
A non-instrument-rated private pilot departed Kissimmee Gateway Airport as weather deteriorated toward his destination near Micanopy, Florida. About an hour into the flight the airplane entered a cloud layer; the pilot began erratic climbs, descents, and tight turns and radioed air traffic control that his attitude indicator and turn-and-bank indicator had failed and that he could not see outside. The airplane entered a steep, tightening descent and struck wooded terrain, killing the pilot. The NTSB found he had not obtained a weather briefing or filed a flight plan before departure.
Single-engine, fixed-gear light airplane
What happened
Source: NTSB Final Report (excerpt)Review of air traffic control communications revealed that during the erratic maneuvering, the pilot called "mayday" and stated he "was lost in weather." During this period, ATC attempted to provide the pilot with radar vectors toward an area with better weather and also suggested control inputs when the ADS-B data showed he was flying off course or beginning a descent or climb. During the conversation, the pilot reported multiple times that multiple instruments had failed, specifically the vacuum-driven attitude indicator and the electrically-driven turn and bank indicator. The pilot also reported that he "mistakenly flew into weather," "it's completely white," and he could not see anything outside. At one point, the pilot reported to ATC that he thought he was "upside down."
Why it happened
Source: NTSB Final Report"The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident to be: The non-instrument-rated pilot's improper inflight decision making and his flight into instrument meteorological conditions, which resulted in spatial disorientation and subsequent loss of airplane control. Contributing to the accident were the pilot's inadequate preflight weather planning."
- Non-instrument-rated pilot's improper inflight decision making
- Continued flight into instrument meteorological conditions (IMC)
- Spatial disorientation following loss of outside visual reference
- Subsequent loss of airplane control
- Inadequate preflight weather planning
Photos & media (3)
NTSB Investigative Photographs, ERA24FA036
Review of air traffic control communications revealed that during the erratic maneuvering, the pilot called "mayday" and stated he "was lost in weather." During this period, ATC attempted to provide the pilot with radar vectors toward an area with better weather and also suggested control inputs when the ADS-B data showed he was flying off course or beginning a descent or climb. During the conversation, the pilot reported multiple times that multiple instruments had failed, specifically the vacuum-driven attitude indicator and the electrically-driven turn and bank indicator. The pilot also reported that he "mistakenly flew into weather," "it's completely white," and he could not see anything outside. At one point, the pilot reported to ATC that he thought he was "upside down."
"The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident to be: The non-instrument-rated pilot's improper inflight decision making and his flight into instrument meteorological conditions, which resulted in spatial disorientation and subsequent loss of airplane control. Contributing to the accident were the pilot's inadequate preflight weather planning."
- Non-instrument-rated pilot's improper inflight decision making
- Continued flight into instrument meteorological conditions (IMC)
- Spatial disorientation following loss of outside visual reference
- Subsequent loss of airplane control
- Inadequate preflight weather planning