At 1011 Eastern time, the airplane was substantially damaged during impact with terrain while on approach. The Private pilot was fatally injured; instrument conditions prevailed. The pilot was flying the RNAV (GPS) Runway 35 approach. The tower controller stated he observed the airplane descend from a cloud layer and asked the pilot if she had the runway in sight. The pilot replied affirmative, and the tower controller provided the current wind information. The pilot began to read back the current wind information, when the nose of the airplane pitched up, then down, followed by a rapid descent into terrain.
June 4, 2007, Canton, Mass., Mooney M20J
At 1011 Eastern time, the airplane was substantially damaged during impact with terrain while on approach. The Private pilot was fatally injured; instrument conditions prevailed. The pilot was flying the RNAV (GPS) Runway 35 approach. The tower controller stated he observed the airplane descend from a cloud layer and asked the pilot if she had the runway in sight. The pilot replied affirmative, and the tower controller provided the current wind information. The pilot began to read back the current wind information, when the nose of the airplane pitched up, then down, followed by a rapid descent into terrain.
Key Takeaways:
- A private pilot was fatally injured and their airplane substantially damaged during an RNAV (GPS) Runway 35 approach in prevailing instrument conditions.
- After descending from a cloud layer, the pilot confirmed having the runway in sight and began to read back wind information provided by the tower controller.
- During the readback, the airplane's nose abruptly pitched up, then down, leading to a rapid descent and impact with terrain.
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