On March 8, 1990, a Piper PA-30 (registration N7123Y) operated by Lowell B. Pete was involved in an aviation accident near Dayton, TN. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: THE PILOT'S INTENTIONAL USE OF AN AUTOPILOT WITH KNOWN DEFICIENCIES. THE PILOT KNOWINGLY RELIED ON THIS AUTOPILOT WHICH MALFUNCTIONED IN FLIGHT AND RESULTED IN HIS BECOMING SPATIALLY DISORIENTATED. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
During an instrument flight, a pilot reported an autopilot malfunction while en route for maintenance, then lost contact and impacted a river in a steep descent.
Incident Overview
A pilot reported that the aircraft was level at 11,000 feet while en route for autopilot maintenance. Shortly after, the pilot informed air traffic control (ATC) of an autopilot malfunction. In response to ATC's offer of vectors, the pilot replied "Please." No further communications were received from the aircraft.
Flight Details
The aircraft impacted a river at a steep angle almost directly below the pilot's last reported position. The pilot was operating in instrument meteorological conditions (IMC) at the time of the incident. According to known information, the pilot relied on the autopilot during instrument flight rules (IFR) operations.
Aftermath
The aircraft was found in the river following the loss of contact. The exact sequence of events leading to the impact remains under investigation. No other information has been provided.