Introduction
On May 23, 2013, a Piper PA-34-220T Seneca V aircraft, registration SP-HIN, operated by Phinanace S.A. Poznań, crashed into the northern slope of Babia Góra mountain in Poland. The accident resulted in the destruction of the aircraft and the deaths of the professional pilot and two passengers.
Flight History
The aircraft departed Poznań-Ławica Airport (EPPO) at 04:56 UTC on a VFR flight to Bratislava-Ivanka Airport (LZIB), with an intermediate waypoint at BABKO and JAN. The filed flight plan listed Kraków-Balice (EPKK) as the alternate. On board were the pilot-in-command and two passengers.
During the flight, weather conditions were good until the vicinity of Bielsko-Biała, then deteriorated significantly south of the Żywiec Basin. The pilot did not turn back to the area of good weather nor land at the alternate airport. He also did not increase altitude to safely cross the mountain range. The aircraft entered an area of severe weather conditions, well below VMC minima, and collided with the mountainside.
Weather and Terrain
Babia Góra is a prominent peak in the Beskidy range. At the time of the accident, meteorological conditions in the region were characterized by low clouds, precipitation, and reduced visibility, though the source does not specify exact values. The aircraft was found on the northern slope at an elevation not explicitly stated in the summary.
Aircraft and Crew Information
The Piper PA-34-220T Seneca V is a twin-engine light aircraft. The pilot held a commercial pilot license. The aircraft had recently undergone maintenance, and the pilot reported to the maintenance company the evening before the flight that the GNS 1 unit was not displaying maps, lacked communication with the MFD, and showed no weather radar or stormscope data. The autopilot was also reported unserviceable. The pilot had not obtained the required rest before the flight, as he had been active late the previous evening and his phone was switched off when the mechanic tried to contact him at 05:00.
Investigation Findings
The investigation by the Polish State Commission on Aircraft Accident Investigation (PKBWL) determined the accident was caused by:
- Planning and conducting the flight at an altitude insufficient for safe passage over the mountain range on the route.
- Allowing the aircraft to enter an area of critically adverse weather conditions while operating under VFR.
- Failure to decide to turn back to good weather or to land at the designated alternate airport.
Contributing circumstances included the unserviceability of the autopilot and some radio navigation equipment, and the pilot commencing flight duties without the required rest.
Conclusion
The aircraft was destroyed by impact forces. The pilot and two passengers sustained fatal injuries. The investigation did not issue any safety recommendations.