At 1134 Central time, the airplane was destroyed after impacting terrain following a sudden loss of altitude during vectors for an instrument approach. The private pilot and one passenger were fatally injured. Instrument conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. At 1132:40 the pilot was told to descend to 3100 feet msl. At 1133:04, at an altitude of 3800 feet msl, a heading of 286 degrees and a groundspeed (GS) of 175 knots, the pilot was told to turn right to 080 degrees. The pilot acknowledged the assigned heading (flights last radio transmission) and the airplane continued a left turn to a heading of 272 degrees until 1133:13, when radar indicated the airplane began a right turn at 172 knots GS. At 1133:40, the airplane was at 1200 msl, on a 046-degree heading and at 254 knots GS. Witnesses indicate the airplane exited low clouds in a steeply banked turn with its engine running.
December 7, 2009, Mendoza, Texas, New Piper Aircraft Inc. PA-46-500TP
At 1134 Central time, the airplane was destroyed after impacting terrain following a sudden loss of altitude during vectors for an instrument approach. The private pilot and one passenger were fatally injured. Instrument conditions prevailed at the time of the accident.
Key Takeaways:
- A private pilot and one passenger were fatally injured when their airplane crashed after a sudden loss of altitude during an instrument approach in instrument meteorological conditions.
- The pilot acknowledged an ATC instruction to turn right to 080 degrees but initially continued a left turn before commencing a right turn.
- Radar data indicates the aircraft descended rapidly from 3800 feet to 1200 feet in approximately 36 seconds, with its groundspeed increasing significantly from 175 to 254 knots.
- Witnesses observed the airplane exit low clouds in a steeply banked turn with its engine running just prior to impacting terrain.
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