THE NON-INSTRUMENT RATED PILOT INITIATING VFR FLIGHT INTO IMC ON A DARK NIGHT WHICH RESULTED IN SPATIAL DISORIENTATION AND UNCONTROLLED FLIGHT INTO THE GROUND. CONTRIBUTING FACTOR(S) WAS: THE ADVERSE WEATHER EXISTING AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT AND THE PILOT'S SELF-INDUCED PRESSURE TO GET TO WORK.
— NTSB Determination
A FRIEND OF THE PILOT REPORTED THAT IT WAS RAINING AND FOGGY AS SHE DROVE HIM TO THE DEPARTURE AIRPORT. SHE ALSO SAID THAT WORK WAS VERY IMPORTANT TO THE PILOT, AND THAT HE FELT THAT HE HAD TO GET TO WORK. WITNESSES REPORTED THAT AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT IN THE IMMEDIATE AREA, THERE WAS WIND, RAIN OF VARYING INTENSITY, LOW CLOUDS AND REDUCED VISIBILITYAVERAGING BETWEEN 1/4 AND 1 MILE.
A FRIEND OF THE PILOT REPORTED THAT IT WAS RAINING AND FOGGY AS SHE DROVE HIM TO THE DEPARTURE AIRPORT. SHE ALSO SAID THAT WORK WAS VERY IMPORTANT TO THE PILOT, AND THAT HE FELT THAT HE HAD TO GET TO WORK. WITNESSES REPORTED THAT AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT IN THE IMMEDIATE AREA, THERE WAS WIND, RAIN OF VARYING…
The accident on 1989-11-28 involved a Piper PA-32-260, registration N3309W, operated by James A. Marshall, at Coventry, CT.
THE NON-INSTRUMENT RATED PILOT INITIATING VFR FLIGHT INTO IMC ON A DARK NIGHT WHICH RESULTED IN SPATIAL DISORIENTATION AND UNCONTROLLED FLIGHT INTO THE GROUND. CONTRIBUTING FACTOR(S) WAS: THE ADVERSE WEATHER EXISTING AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT AND THE PILOT'S SELF-INDUCED PRESSURE TO GET TO WORK.
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