1992-10-09: Piper PA-32-260 — Tar Heel Railroad Inc.

1992-10-09: Piper PA-32-260 — Tar Heel Railroad Inc. — Pulaski, VA

Casualties unknown • Pulaski, VA, US

Probable cause

THE IMPROPER DECISION BY THE NON-INSTRUMENT-RATED PILOT TO CONTINUE VFR FLIGHT INTO KNOWN INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS RESULTING IN SPATIAL DISORIENTATION AND LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE. FACTORS WHICH CONTRIBUTED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE THE ACTIONS OF THE RADAR CONTROLLER WHOSE VECTORS AND NO-GYRO VECTORS MOST LIKELY CONTRIBUTED TO THE PILOT'S DISORIENTATION, THE ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS, AND THE DARK NIGHT.

— NTSB Determination

Accident narrative

AT 1930, THE PLT CONTACTED FSS & REQUESTED DESTINATION WX. HE WAS ADVISED THAT VFR FLT WAS NOT RECOMMENDED. AT 2017, HE CONTACTED ATC CENTER & REPORTED THAT HE '...RAN INTO A LITTLE SOUP...' AT 2020, HE REPORTED 'I'VE LOST UH MY TURN INDICATOR...' THE NON-PILOT-RATED ATC CONTROLLER THEN BEGAN PROVIDING NO-GYRO VECTORS TO THE PILOT. IN ADDITION, THE CONTROLLER DID NOT PROVIDE THE MINIUM VECTORING ALTITUDE TO THE PILOT. AT 2028, THE PILOT REPORTED '...WE'RE HAVING SOME...TROUBLE...' THE AIRPLANE WAS OBSERVED COMING DOWN AT ABOUT A 45 DEG ANGLE.

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 1992-10-09 Piper PA-32-260 accident near Pulaski, VA?

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 1992-10-09 involved a Piper PA-32-260, registration N31953, operated by Tar Heel Railroad Inc., at Pulaski, VA.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

THE IMPROPER DECISION BY THE NON-INSTRUMENT-RATED PILOT TO CONTINUE VFR FLIGHT INTO KNOWN INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS RESULTING IN SPATIAL DISORIENTATION AND LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE. FACTORS WHICH CONTRIBUTED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE THE ACTIONS OF THE RADAR CONTROLLER WHOSE VECTORS AND NO-GYRO VECTORS…

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