What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 2007-09-21 involved a North American NAVION, registration N8844H, at Clayton, NC.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

The pilot's intentional abrupt maneuver during low altitude cruise flight to avoid obstructions ahead, resulting in an in-flight collision with terrain and a building. Contributing to the accident were the failure of the pilot to obtain a preflight weather briefing and his flight into known IMC.

Pilot Without Weather Briefing Descended Into Instrument Conditions, Crashed Into Restaurant Parking Lot (N8844H)

On September 21, 2007, a North American NAVION (registration N8844H) was involved in an aviation accident near Clayton, NC. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's intentional abrupt maneuver during low altitude cruise flight to avoid obstructions ahead, resulting in an in-flight collision with terrain and a building. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.

An instrument-rated pilot who did not obtain a preflight weather briefing departed VFR into forecast IMC, descended while terrain rose, and after a hard right bank impacted a restaurant parking lot, causing fragmentation and fire.

Flight and Conditions

The pilot, who held an instrument rating but had not logged any actual instrument flight time, did not obtain a preflight weather briefing from either Lockheed Martin Flight Service Station or DUATS. Forecast conditions along the route included instrument meteorological conditions (IMC) due to low ceilings and visibility, while visual flight rules (VFR) conditions existed at the destination airport at both departure and estimated arrival times.

Departure and Radar Track

The flight departed under VFR and proceeded northeast. Approximately 59 nautical miles north-northeast of the departure airport, the aircraft was identified on radar. Over the next 55 nautical miles, the flight was observed never exceeding 800 feet pressure altitude. The aircraft continued northeast, gradually descending as terrain elevation increased.

Weather and Obstacles

At an airport 21 nautical miles from the crash site, a ceiling of broken clouds at 400 feet above ground level (agl) was reported. During the final 9 minutes 31 seconds of the flight, ground speed remained at or above 110 knots. The aircraft descended to 265 feet agl, and at the last radar return—0.18 nautical miles from the crash site—ground speed was 130 knots.

Impact and Damage

While approaching an antenna tower (215 feet agl) and a water tower (185 feet agl) ahead of the flight path, the pilot executed a hard right bank. With the engine operating at approximately 2,300 rpm, the airplane impacted the parking lot of a restaurant. The airplane then crashed into the restaurant, becoming fragmented. A fire erupted on impact, and the restaurant sustained impact and fire damage.

Examination

Examination of the airframe, flight controls, engine, engine accessories, and propeller revealed no evidence of preimpact failure or malfunction.

2007-09-21: North American NAVION (N8844H) — Clayton, NC