Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Romeo, Michigan 48065
Sunday, December 31, 2006 18:32 EST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot was flying a VOR approach in instrument conditions when the accident occurred. Data indicated that the airplane entered a left standard rate turn and descended into trees approximately 2.5 miles from the airport. Two of the passengers on board reported that there was no indication of any problem during the flight. They reported that they had just descended below the clouds and thought they were landing just prior to contacting the trees. Witnesses reported moderate to heavy rain in the area at the time of the accident. A plot of the GPS data shows the airplane traveled south of the approach course. It then turned left back toward the course. The GPS data then showed that approximately 20 seconds prior to the last recorded position, the airplane entered a 2.6 degree/sec left turn, while accelerating from 99 mph to 119 mph. The last recorded GPS position was approximately 275 yards south of the accident site. Post accident inspection of the airplane and engine failed to reveal any pre-existing failure/malfunction, which would have resulted in the accident.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control and proper rate of descent during the VOR approach. Factors associated with the accident were the low cloud conditions and moderate to heavy rain.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 12/31/2006
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1832
Event Time Zone Eastern Standard Time
Event City Romeo
Event State MICHIGAN
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 48065
Event Date Year 2006
Event Date Month 12
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 424746N
Event Location Longitude 0825830W
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 2.5
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 745
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1826 Eastern Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 150
Weather Observation Facility ID MTC
Elevation of weather observation facility 580
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 14
Time Zone of the weather observation EST
Lighting Conditions Night
Lowest Ceiling Height 500
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Unknown
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Broken
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 3
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 7
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 7
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) --
Variable Wind Indicator Variable
Wind Speed (knots) 4
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 11
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.73
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Fatal
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal 1
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious 2
Injury Total All 3
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 23123
NTSB Notification Source FAA
NTSB Notification Date Dec 31 2006 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Mar 31 2008 11:52AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\johb
Basic weather conditions Instrument Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Detroit, MI FSDO

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N888PR
NTSB Number CHI07LA051
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed IFR
Flight plan Was Activated? Yes
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Piper
Aircraft Model PA-32-300
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 32-7340129
Certified Max Gross Weight 3400
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 7
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Mar 1 2006 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 87.7
Airframe Hours 4640
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated --
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Commadore Aviation Ltd
Aircraft Owner Street Address 14760 Ivanhoe Drive
Aircraft Owner City Shelby Township
Aircraft Owner State MI
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 48315
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name Michael R. D'Arcy
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address --
Operator City Rochester
Operator State MI
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 48307
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? --
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
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 TVC
Departure City Traverse City
Departure State MI
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1700
Departure Time Zone EST
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code D98
Destination City Romeo
Destination State MI
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Approach - Initial approach fix (IAF) to final approach fix (FAF)/outer marker (IFR)
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Feb 22 2008 8:32AM
User who most recently changed record BOWL
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location NA
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --