Primary finding
Probable cause
The pilot's continued visual flight into instrument meteorological conditions at night which resulted in a loss of airplane control, spatial disorientation, and an inflight breakup. Factors which contributed to the accident were: the adverse weather and the dark night.
Investigator assessment
Analysis narrative
The flight had departed fairbanks on a VFR flight plan with a destination of anchorage. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at both the departure point and the destination; however, there were reported areas of instrument meteorological conditions en route. The airplane crashed into trees 11 mi north of talkeetna. The left outboard 4 ft of wing and the left stabilator were located 3/8 mi west of the main wreckage.
Source record
Factual narrative
On October 11, 1992, at 2030 Alaska standard time, a wheel equipped Piper, PA 28 180 airplane, N16275, crashed into trees one mile east of mile marker 131 of the Parks Highway, which is located 11 miles north of Talkeetna, Alaska. The airplane was registered to H and H Air Services of Anchorage, Alaska, and was rented by the Pilot in Command. The personal flight, operating under 14 CFR Part 91, last departed Fairbanks, Alaska, at 1830 on a visual flight rules flight plan and the destination was Merrill Field in Anchorage. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the departure point and the destination; however, there were reported areas of instrument meteorological conditions en route. The airplane was destroyed by impact forces, and the Pilot in Command and the three passengers were fatally injured. Preliminary examination of the wreckage shows that the left outboard 4 feet of wing and the left stabilator were located 3/8 of a mile west of the main airplane wreckage. This airplane was reported missing on October 11, 1992, at 2248 Alaska standard time and was located on May 22, 1993. The previous preliminary report number was ANC93FAMS2. -