On September 19, 1982, a Piper PA-38 (registration N24641) operated by Edward P. Preisendorfer was involved in an aviation accident near Imlay, NV. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's decision to continue flight into deteriorating weather conditions, which resulted in loss of control due to low visibility and terrain obstruction. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
An aircraft disappeared behind a hill while flying through low visibility, rain, and thunderstorms with hail in a canyon area.
What happened
The pilot was navigating through a canyon environment under adverse weather conditions that significantly reduced situational awareness. Visibility was poor due to low visibility and rain, which obscured the ridges along the flight path. Additionally, clouds covered the terrain, further complicating visual references.
A witness observed the aircraft disappear behind a hill. The witness's ability to track the aircraft was limited because a storm obscured both her vision and hearing. Following the incident, the aircraft was located in a box canyon. Reports indicated that thunderstorms and hail were present in the area at the time of the event.
Probable cause
The pilot's decision to continue flight into deteriorating weather conditions, which resulted in loss of control due to low visibility and terrain obstruction.