Fatal Piper PA-24-180 Crash in Cape Cod Bay (N7648P)

Accident Overview and Flight History On January 15, 2012, at approximately 1005 EST, a Piper PA-24-180, registration N7648P, crashed into Cape Cod Bay near Brewster, Massachusetts. The aircraft was registered to a private individual and operated by a private pilot for an instructional flight under Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) from Vineyard Haven (MVY) to Hyannis (HYA). The flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. The accident resulted in fatal injuries to the private pilot and a flight instructor, and the aircraft sustained substantial damage. The pilot filed a flight plan and obtained a weather briefing via DUATS on January 14, 2012. The flight plan noted, “Practice Approaches - PIC: Robert Walker.” According to the pilot’s wife, the flight was an instrument proficiency check. After two practice approaches, the pilot requested four turns in holding at the MECEJ holding fix. At 1504:01, an air traffic controller noted altitude variations of 500 feet and offered assistance. At 1504:09, the pilot reported smoke in the cabin. The last transmission at 1504:33 indicated the smoke had been cleared, after which radar and radio contact was lost.