What happened
On 24 May 2015, a Cessna T182T Turbo Skylane, registration N247P, departed Athboy Airfield (EIMH) for a scheduled breakfast fly-in near Taghmom, Co. Wexford. The flight, which included a pilot, a passenger, and two dogs, initially proceeded south at approximately 1,500 ft. After passing Carlow, the aircraft turned toward its destination, placing it on a path toward rising terrain.
During the flight, the aircraft encountered weather conditions that transitioned from visual to instrument meteorological conditions. While navigating near Blackstairs Mt., the aircraft initiated a shallow climb. At 09:30 hrs, the aircraft impacted the western slope of the mountain. The impact resulted in 2 fatalities and the total destruction of the aircraft.
The investigation
Investigators from the AAIU examined radar data, CCTV footage from the departure airfield, and a recovered Garmin 2/96 GPS unit. The investigation established that the aircraft was properly maintained according to US Federal Aviation Regulations and that the engine was producing high power at the moment of impact.
Analysis of the GPS data revealed that the aircraft was likely utilizing automatic flight modes and had commenced a shallow climb at a rate of roughly 150 feet per minute. The investigation also looked into the pilot's medical history, noting underlying stable heart disease, though it could not be determined if a cardiac event contributed to the accident. Additionally, while the aircraft was equipped with a Terrain Awareness and Warning System (TAWS), investigators could not confirm if the system's alerts were active or inhibited at the time of the crash.