What happened
On June 29, 2019, a Piper PA-28-180, registration N55784, crashed into a mountainside in the La Ciénaga area of Barahona, Dominican Republic. The aircraft was conducting a private flight from Aeropuerto Internacional María Montes toward Aeródromo de Cabo Rojo as part of a recreational fly-in event.
Earlier that morning, the pilot had diverted to María Montes after being notified that landing authorization for the original destination had not been secured from the Dominican Air Force. After obtaining the necessary permission via telephone, the aircraft departed María Montes at approximately 09:45. During the flight, the pilot deviated from the planned route with the intention of overflying the Hoyo de Pelempito area. The aircraft subsequently struck the slope of Loma Majagualito at an elevation of 3,240 feet. The impact resulted in four fatalities and the total destruction of the aircraft.
The investigation
The CIAA investigation established that the aircraft was operating under Visual Flight Rules (VFR) using GPS navigation. While the aircraft was in good mechanical condition and airworthy, investigators focused on the flight's altitude and visibility.
Investigators discovered a discrepancy in the altimeter setting. Although Air Traffic Control (ATC) had provided a QNH of 30.06 Hg prior to departure, the altimeter at the time of impact indicated 30.38 Hg. This error meant the aircraft was flying approximately 280 feet lower than the instrument indicated. Furthermore, the investigation noted that the area was covered by clouds, significantly reducing visibility and increasing the risk of flying into terrain.
Findings
- The pilot failed to maintain the required minimum safe altitude for the sector.
- An incorrect altimeter setting caused the aircraft to operate at a lower altitude than the pilot believed.
- The flight crew deviated from the intended route to fly over a mountainous region.
- Reduced visibility due to cloud cover contributed to the inability to avoid the terrain.
- The accident is classified as a controlled flight into terrain (CFIT).