On December 27, 1991, a Piper PA-24-250 (registration N6408P) operated by Johnson Sales And Service was involved in an aviation accident near Missoula, MT. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: THE PILOT'S POOR IN-FLIGHT DECISION, FAILURE TO PERFORM A MISSED APPROACH, AND IMPROPER ALTITUDE. FACTORS INCLUDE POOR PREFLIGHT PLANNING/PREPARATION, AND WEATHER CONDITIONS BELOW APPROACH MINIMUMS. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
A Piper PA-24 pilot impacted terrain while attempting an ILS approach in weather below minimums. The pilot, low on fuel and without a weather briefing, had already attempted the approach twice before descending below decision height.
Accident Overview
A pilot operating a Piper PA-24 airplane impacted terrain while attempting to execute an Instrument Landing System (ILS) approach. The weather conditions at the time were below the minimums required for the approach.
Sequence of Events
The pilot had departed without first obtaining a weather briefing. During the flight, the pilot reported being low on fuel. He had already attempted the ILS approach twice before looking for an alternate airport in the surrounding area. Unable to locate an alternate within the remaining fuel range, the pilot elected to attempt the approach despite knowing that the weather was below minimums. During the approach, the pilot descended below the decision height and subsequently impacted the terrain.
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