At about 1750 Eastern time, the airplane collided with terrain. The private pilot and three passengers were killed, and the airplane was substantially damaged. Visual conditions prevailed. At 1745, the pilot reported smoke in the cockpit and an engine-compartment fire. Between 1745 and 1749, ATC offered an airport three miles closer to the airplane than the destination, but the pilot declined, adding that the smoke was dissipating. At 1750, the pilot advised ATC he was going to land on a highway. The pilot then reported the airplane was on fire; this was the last transmission from the airplane. Review of radar data revealed that the airplane was at 3000 feet agl and 110 knots when radar contact was lost. A witness observed the airplane flying low and trailing black smoke. The engine stopped, and the airplane appeared to pitch up before rolling inverted and impacting terrain in a near-vertical attitude. The engine was 230 hours past its TBO.
September 20, 2009, Fort Lauderdale, Fla., Piper PA-32R-301T
At about 1750 Eastern time, the airplane collided with terrain. The private pilot and three passengers were killed, and the airplane was substantially damaged. Visual conditions prevailed. At 1745, the pilot reported smoke in the cockpit and an engine-compartment fire. Between 1745 and 1749, ATC offered an airport three miles closer to the airplane than the destination, but the pilot declined, adding that the smoke was dissipating. At 1750, the pilot advised ATC he was going to land on a highway. The pilot then reported the airplane was on fire; this was the last transmission from the airplane.
Key Takeaways:
- A private pilot and three passengers were killed when their airplane crashed following the pilot's report of smoke in the cockpit and an engine-compartment fire.
- The pilot initially declined an offer to divert to a closer airport, stating the smoke was dissipating, but later reported the airplane was on fire and attempted an emergency highway landing before radar contact was lost.
- Witnesses observed the airplane flying low with black smoke, the engine stopping, and the aircraft rolling inverted before impacting in a near-vertical attitude, with the engine being significantly past its recommended overhaul time.
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