Craig Field Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Jacksonville, Florida 32229
Sunday, December 27, 1992 20:19 EST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PRIVATE PILOT WHO HAD RECENTLY RECEIVED AN INSTRUMENT AIRPLANE RATING ATTEMPTED TO EXECUTE A NIGHT INSTRUMENT APPROACH IN WEATHER CONDITIONS NEAR THE MINIMUM AUTHORIZED. HE CONTACTED FSS AND ANNOUNCED HIS INTENTIONS TO EXECUTE A MISSED APPROACH THAT CONSISTED OF A CLIMBING RIGHT TURN. NO FURTHER COMMUNICATIONS WERE HEARD. THE AIRPLANE WAS FOUND ABOUT 6 HOURS LATER INVERTED IN A SWAMPY TREE AREA ABOUT 12 MILES TO THE RIGHT OF THE THRESHOLD ON THE RUNWAY TO WHICH THE APPROACH HAD BEEN ATTEMPTED. EXAMINATION OF THE AIRPLANE, ENGINE, VACUUM SYSTEM, AND GYROS REVEALED NO PREEXISTING FAILURES.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND'S FAILURE TO ATTAIN AN ADEQUATE CLIMB RATE DURING THE MISSED APPROACH IN IMC CONDITIONS. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE PILOT'S SPATIAL DISORIENTATION.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 12/27/1992
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 2019
Event Time Zone Eastern Standard Time
Event City JACKSONVILLE
Event State FLORIDA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 32229
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 CRAIG FIELD
Event Location Nearest Airport ID CRG
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 1
Degrees magnetic from airport 50
Airport Elevation 41
Weather Briefing Completeness Full
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1040 Eastern Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 50
Weather Observation Facility ID CRG
Elevation of weather observation facility 41
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 1
Time Zone of the weather observation EST
Lighting Conditions Night/Dark
Lowest Ceiling Height 500
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
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) 9
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 9
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 10
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 10
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
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 2
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 891
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Dec 28 1992 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 815
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 50085
Date of most recent change to record Dec 11 2000 3:30PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Instrument Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N3620M
NTSB Number MIA93FA038
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 28R37127
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 Nov 10 1992 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 75
Airframe Hours 3077
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Yes
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name B&H AVIATION INC.
Aircraft Owner Street Address 721 OLIVE ST.
Aircraft Owner City ST. LOUIS MO
Aircraft Owner State MO
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 63101
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name DOWNTOWN AVIATION
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address P.O. BOX 1716
Operator City CAHOKIE
Operator State IL
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 62206
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 GAD
Departure City GADSDEN
Departure State AL
Departure Country
Departure Time 1740
Departure Time Zone CST
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code
Destination City
Destination State
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 32
Runway Length 4007
Runway Width 100
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --