Accident Overview
On the day of the accident, a Piper PA-31T (Federal Republic of Germany registration) was on an arrival approach to the airport. The pilot in the left front seat held a German commercial certificate with instrument, single-engine land, and multi-engine land ratings. The pilot in the right front seat held an American private certificate with a single-engine land rating.
Flight and Sequence of Events
Air traffic control cleared the aircraft to enter a right traffic pattern for runway 32R, following a Decathlon also landing on the same runway. After the PA-31 crew called turning onto a base leg, the tower controller asked if they had the Decathlon in sight; no reply was received. The Decathlon pilot was then instructed to change its approach to runway 32L and was cleared to land. The PA-31 was subsequently observed to overshoot its turn to the final approach course for runway 32R.
Witness Observations
Witnesses reported that the aircraft made an erratic, slow-speed, nose-high turn at low altitude. It then entered a right turn, nose-down spin, crashed, and burned. The impact occurred on a ground structure.
Investigation and Findings
An investigation revealed no preimpact mechanical failure or malfunction. The accident resulted in fire damage to five automobiles. All six occupants were killed. The official findings identified two occurrences:
- Occurrence #1: Loss of Control – In Flight – Phase of operation: approach – VFR pattern – base leg/base to final. Findings included: improper planned approach by the pilot-in-command, diverted attention, failure to maintain airspeed, and inadvertent stall/spin.
- Occurrence #2: In Flight Collision with Object – Phase of operation: descent – uncontrolled. The object struck was a nonresidential building.
Probable Cause
The probable cause of the accident was a loss of control in flight during the approach phase, resulting from an improper planned approach by the pilot-in-command, diverted attention, failure to maintain airspeed, and an inadvertent stall/spin. This led to an uncontrolled descent and collision with a nonresidential building.