On July 8, 1991, a Gulfstream American AA5B (registration N43ER) operated by Robert O. Miller was involved in an aviation accident near Columbia, CT. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: THE DECISION OF THE PILOT TO CONTINUE FLIGHT INTO INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS, WHICH RESULTED IN AN IN FLIGHT COLLISION WITH TREES. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive; 1 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.
The pilot of N43ER did not receive a weather briefing before departure, flying at low altitude in dense fog without an instrument rating. The engine sounded normal with no malfunctions.
Flight Details
Before departure, the pilot of aircraft N43ER did not obtain a weather briefing. Witnesses reported dense fog throughout the area at the time of the incident. The aircraft was heard flying over several homes at a low altitude shortly before the event. The engine was described by witnesses as sounding normal, with no indications of malfunction.
Pilot Experience
The pilot was not instrument rated. His total flight time was 169 hours, of which 8.5 hours were logged at night.
Context
No further information regarding the outcome of the flight or specific damage was provided in the source. The investigation did not state a probable cause for the accident.