At about 19:50 eastern time, a Piper PA-34-200T struck the ground while on approach to Mercer County Airport. The pilot was not injured. The pilot was flying the airplane from Lewisburg, where it had gotten its annual inspection. When he arrived at Bluefield, the ASOS was reporting a ceiling of 100 feet with fog. He shot the approach anyway, but missed it. He attempted a second ILS and missed that one, too. He was about to divert to another airport when an employee of the Bluefield FBO asked over the radio if he would like the approach lights turned up. He decided to try a third approach. As he was looking for the lights, he descended into trees and crashed.
Jan. 19, Bluefield, W.V. / Piper Seneca
At about 19:50 eastern time, a Piper PA-34-200T struck the ground while on approach to Mercer County Airport. The pilot was not injured. The pilot was flying the airplane from Lewisburg, where it had gotten its annual inspection. When he arrived at Bluefield, the ASOS was reporting a ceiling of 100 feet with fog. He shot the approach anyway, but missed it. He attempted a second ILS and missed that one, too. He was about to divert to another airport when an employee of the Bluefield FBO asked over the radio if he would like the approach lights turned up. He decided to try a third approach. As he was looking for the lights, he descended into trees and crashed....
Key Takeaways:
- A Piper PA-34-200T crashed near Mercer County Airport in very poor weather conditions, though the pilot was uninjured.
- The pilot had already attempted and missed two instrument approaches due to a 100-foot ceiling and fog.
- Despite considering diversion, the pilot attempted a third approach after an FBO employee offered to increase the approach light intensity.
- During this final approach, the pilot descended into trees and crashed while searching for the lights.
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