On November 16, 1989, a Piper PA-28R-200 (registration N55399) operated by Miller, Walter was involved in an aviation accident near New Castle, NY. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: THE PILOT FAILED TO MAINTAIN PROPER ALTITUDE AND ALIGNMENT WITH THE ILS DURING THE ILS APPROACH AND FAILED TO PERFORM THE MISSED APPROACH. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
An airplane on an ILS approach to Runway 16 deviated from the localizer and descended below the glide path. The controller warned the pilot, but the aircraft struck a tree at 600 ft MSL, after last radar contact at 700 ft.
Approach and Controller Warnings
The airplane was conducting an instrument landing system (ILS) approach to Runway 16. During the approach, radar controllers observed the aircraft deviate from the localizer course, first to the left and then to the right. The controller issued warnings to the pilot about these deviations and additionally alerted the pilot that the aircraft was 300 feet too low relative to the normal glide path.
Final Descent
Radar contact was lost when the airplane was at 700 feet mean sea level (MSL) and positioned to the right of the localizer course. The ground elevation at the accident site was 600 feet MSL. The airplane subsequently struck a tree that was approximately 100 feet tall. Weather conditions at the time included partial obscuration and visibility of one-quarter mile.
Pilot Experience
The pilot had accumulated a total of 40 simulated instrument flight hours and 32 night flight hours at the time of the event.
What happened in the 16 Nov 1989 Piper PA-28R-200 accident near New Castle, NY?
An airplane on an ILS approach to Runway 16 deviated from the localizer and descended below the glide path. The controller warned the pilot, but the aircraft struck a tree at 600 ft MSL, after last radar contact at 700 ft.
What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?
The accident on 16 Nov 1989 involved a Piper PA-28R-200, registration N55399, operated by Miller, Walter, at New Castle, NY.
What was the probable cause of the accident?
THE PILOT FAILED TO MAINTAIN PROPER ALTITUDE AND ALIGNMENT WITH THE ILS DURING THE ILS APPROACH AND FAILED TO PERFORM THE MISSED APPROACH.
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