What happened
On April 5, 2023, at approximately 2137 EDT, a Piper PA-32R-300, registration N635BD, crashed into the Gulf of Mexico near Venice, Florida. The flight was being operated under night visual flight rules (VFR) for a personal trip following a dinner in Venice.
After departing Venice Municipal Airport (VNC) from runway 23, the aircraft climbed to a peak altitude of approximately 300 feet. Witnesses observed the airplane rocking and entering a right turn before descending rapidly into the water. ADS-B track data confirmed that after reaching 300 feet, the aircraft began a right turn and a descent. The final recorded data point showed the aircraft at 100 feet, traveling at 136 knots with a vertical descent rate of 3,008 feet per minute.
The accident resulted in 4 fatal injuries.
The investigation
Investigators recovered the wreckage from a depth of approximately 23 feet. Examination of the N635BD wreckage identified all major components except for the right wing, right aileron, right flap, portions of the main fuselage, and parts of the fuel system. The fuselage was destroyed by the impact, and the empennage was separated from the airframe.
Mechanical analysis of the engine and propeller showed no evidence of preimpact failure. The propeller blades were bent and twisted, consistent with impact. While the aircraft was equipped with a two-axis autopilot featuring a "Recover Mode," the autopilot's On/Off switch was in the Off position, and the aircraft had not reached the 500-foot minimum altitude required for the system to engage.
Medical examinations of the pilot revealed evidence of uncontrolled diabetes, indicated by an elevated HbA1c level. While ethanol was detected in the pilot's cavity blood, the level was very low, and it may have been produced postmortem.
Findings
- The pilot initiated a VFR flight into dark night conditions where no visible horizon was present over the water.
- The lack of a visible horizon prevented the pilot from using external visual cues to maintain control.
- The flight path, characterized by a right turn and rapid descent, was consistent with spatial disorientation.
- The aircraft's altitude remained below the minimum engagement altitude for the autopilot's recovery function.