Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Phenix City, Alabama 36868
Monday, December 21, 1992 13:10 EST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PRIVATE PILOT OBTAINED HER INSTRUMENT RATING THREE MONTHS PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT. THE FIRST INSTRUMENT LANDING SYSTEM APPROACH INTO THE AIRPORT TERMINATED IN A MISSED APPROACH. WHEN GIVEN A FREQUENCY CHANGE, JUST PRIOR TO REACHING THE OUTER MARKER, SHE REPLIED THAT SHE WAS IN SERIOUS TROUBLE. THE AIRCRAFT DISAPPEARED FROM THE RADAR, AND NO FURTHER RADIO TRANSMISSION WERE MADE BY THE PILOT. WITNESSES STATED THAT THE AIRCRAFT DESCENDED OUT OF THE BASE OF THE CLOUDS IN A NOSE DOWN ATTITUDE, AND A STEEP LEFT BANK. EXAMINATION OF THE AIRCRAFT REVALED NO MECHANICAL NOR INSTRUMENTATION MALFUNCTIONS.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT IN INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS. A FACTOR WAS THE PILOTS LACK OF TOTAL EXPERIENCE IN INSTRUMENT FLIGHT CONDITIONS.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 12/21/1992
Event Day of the Week Monday
Time of Event 1310
Event Time Zone Eastern Standard Time
Event City PHENIX CITY
Event State ALABAMA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 36868
Event Date Year 1992
Event Date Month 12
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Full
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1300 Eastern Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 235
Weather Observation Facility ID CSG
Elevation of weather observation facility 397
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 7
Time Zone of the weather observation EST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 1900
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 300
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Partial Obscuration
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Overcast
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 1
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 13
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 12
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 70
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 6
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) 230
Intensity of Precipitation Light
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Fatal
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal 1
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 990
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Dec 21 1992 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1555
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 52044
Date of most recent change to record Dec 11 2000 3:29PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Instrument Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N9319C
NTSB Number ATL93FA039
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed IFR
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name PIPER
Aircraft Model PA-28R-201
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-28R-201
Aircraft Serial Number 28R-7837190
Certified Max Gross Weight 2750
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 4
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection 100 Hour
Date of Last Inspection Oct 12 1992 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 39
Airframe Hours 3719
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name ARAGUEL, PATRICK J.
Aircraft Owner Street Address P O BOX 4735
Aircraft Owner City COLUMBUS
Aircraft Owner State GA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 31904
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name ARAGUEL, CHARLOTTE L.
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 5669 WHITESVILLE RD.
Operator City COLUMBUS
Operator State GA
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 31904
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code NEW
Departure City NEW ORLEANS
Departure State LA
Departure Country
Departure Time 1031
Departure Time Zone EST
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code CSG
Destination City COLUMBUS
Destination State GA
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Approach
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:35AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 0
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --