2012 Piper PA-28-140 Accident at Creve Coeur Lake (N55620)

Accident Overview and Flight History On October 24, 2012, at approximately 2040 central daylight time, a Piper PA-28-140, registration N55620, was substantially damaged after impacting Creve Coeur Lake near Maryland Heights, Missouri. The airline transport certificated pilot and a passenger were fatally injured. The aircraft was registered to and operated by a private individual under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Night visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and the flight was operating under a visual flight rules flight plan. The flight originated from Delaware, Ohio, and was en route to Creve Coeur Airport (K1H0) in St. Louis, Missouri. According to an FAA inspector, the flight had departed Factoryville, Pennsylvania, earlier that day and stopped in Delaware, Ohio, for fuel. At 1952, the pilot contacted the St. Louis Lambert terminal radar approach control facility, reporting an altitude of 4,500 feet. At 2007, the pilot requested clearance through class B airspace en route to Creve Coeur Airport. The controller provided a clearance via the Cardinal VOR and ultimately cleared the pilot to descend to and then below 2,200 feet. The pilot acknowledged these clearances. At 2037, the pilot was cleared to change to the advisory frequency for Creve Coeur Airport and acknowledged the transmission. No further communications were recorded between air traffic control and the pilot. A witness on the northeast side of the lake reported hearing the aircraft fly overhead, noting it sounded low. The aircraft approached from the east, turned south, and then back east as it passed overhead. The witness remarked that the engine sounded like it was sputtering and thought the pilot was attempting to land on the beach of Creve Coeur Lake. The witness then saw the aircraft impact the water, cartwheel, and sink. First responders reported the aircraft was submerged in five feet of water and came to rest inverted.