MIA08MA051

The pilot's spatial disorientation and subsequent failure to maintain airplane control.

The instrument-rated private pilot departed on an instrument flight rules (IFR) cross-country flight plan in near-zero visibility with mist, light freezing rain, and moderate mixed and clear icing. After departure, and as the airplane entered a climbing right turn to a track of about 260 degrees, the pilot reported to air traffic control that she was at 1,000 feet, climbing to 10,000 feet. The flight remained on a track of about 260 degrees and continued to accelerate and climb for 38 seconds. The pilot then declared an emergency, stating that she had an attitude indicator failure. At that moment, radar data depicted the airplane at 3,500 feet and 267 knots. Thirteen seconds later, the pilot radioed she wasn't sure which way she was turning. The transmission ended abruptly. Radar data indicated that at the time the transmission ended the airplane was in a steep, rapidly descending left turn. The fragmented airplane wreckage, due to impact and subsequent explosive forces, was located in a wooded area about 6 miles south-southwest of the departure airport. Examination of the accident site revealed a near vertical high-speed impact consistent with an in-flight loss of control. The on-site examination of the airframe remnants did not show evidence of preimpact malfunction. Examination of recovered engine remnants revealed evidence that both engines were producing power at the time of impact and no preimpact malfunctions with the engines were noted. The failure, single or dual, of the attitude indicator is listed as an abnormal event in the manufacturer's Pilot's Abbreviated Emergency/Abnormal Procedures. The airplane was equipped with three different sources of attitude information: one incorporated in the primary flight display unit on the pilot's side, another single instrument on the copilot's side, and the standby attitude indicator. In the event of a dual failure, on both the pilot and copilot sides, aircraft control could be maintained by referencing to the standby attitude indicator, which is in plain view of the pilot. The indicators are powered by separate sources and, during the course of the investigation, no evidence was identified that indicated any systems, including those needed to maintain aircraft control, failed. The pilot called for a weather briefing while en route to the airport 30 minutes prior to departure and acknowledged the deteriorating weather during the briefing. Additionally, the pilot was eager to depart, as indicated by comments that she made before her departure that she was glad to be leaving and that she had to go. Witnesses indicated that as she was departing the airport she failed to activate taxi and runway lights, taxied on grass areas off taxiways, and announced incorrect taxi instructions and runways. Additionally, no Federal Aviation Administration authorization for the pilot to operate an aircraft between 29,000 feet and 41,000 feet could be found; the IFR flight plan was filed with an en route altitude of 38,000 feet. The fact that the airplane was operating at night in instrument meteorological conditions and the departure was an accelerating climbing turn, along with the pilot's demonstrated complacency, created an environment conducive to spatial disorientation. Given the altitude and speed of the airplane, the pilot would have only had seconds to identify, overcome, and respond to the effects of spatial disorientation.

HISTORY OF FLIGHT On February 01, 2008, about 1747 eastern standard time, a Cessna 525, N102PT, crashed in a wooded area in West Gardiner, Maine. The certificated private pilot, who was the owner of the airplane, and one passenger were killed; the airplane was destroyed. The flight was operated by a private individual under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91 as a personal flight. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed and an instrument flight rules (IFR) flight plan was filed for a flight from the Augusta State Airport (AUG), Augusta, Maine to Lincoln Airport (LNK), Lincoln, Nebraska. The flight had originated from AUG about 1745. Employees of the fixed base operator (FBO) at AUG stated that at the pilot's request the airplane was fueled and moved from the ramp into the FBO's hangar earlier that morning. The hanger was utilized by an air carrier operator that was based at the airport. When the air carrier's 1630 flight was canceled due to weather conditions, the Cessna was taken out of the hangar about 1600 and moved back to the ramp area to allow for the air carrier's airplane to be put back into the hangar. A person identifying herself as the pilot of N102PT called the Lockheed Martin, Kankakee, Illinois, Automated Flight Service Station (AFSS) about 1701, to file an IFR flight plan from AUG to LNK. The pilot received a standard weather briefing for the flight at that time. The standard weather briefing advised of the icing, fog, mist, precipitation, and turbulence from departure climb to the flight altitude level requested of 38,000 feet and throughout the filed flight plan. The pilot commented that the weather was "just cruddy". The attending FBO representative stated that the pilot arrived at the airport at about 1715, at which time she and the passenger loaded their personal effects into the airplane, returned a rental car, and paid for the fuel; this was done in a hurry. She made the comment to the passenger to hurry that they have to go as he was going to use the restroom. The pilot declined to have the airplane de-iced when asked by the FBO representative. She and the passenger then boarded the airplane. Shortly after, about 1730, the airplane's engines were heard starting and soon afterward the airplane was observed taxiing. The FBO representative heard the pilot's radio transmissions over the radio in the FBO. He also noticed the airplane was not on the taxiway as it taxied, but rather on the grass area on the south side of the asphalt taxiway. At that time the ground was covered with snow and ice. He stated that for the past hour and half the weather conditions had turned from light snow to freezing rain, and ice was observed covering the cars in the parking lot. The ice was estimated about 1/4 inch thick. The employee noted the pilot did not turn on the airport taxi and runway lights, which would have been accomplished via the common air traffic radio frequency for the airport. He also observed that the airplane traveled through a ditch, which was covered with ice and snow, and at about that time, the airplane's engines were heard to accelerate to a high power setting. It was later discovered that the airplane's left main tire broke through the ice and became trapped in the ditch requiring the additional engine power to be released. The airplane continued on the grass area after the high engine power setting was heard. The FBO representative heard the pilot announce that she was taxiing to runway 3: however, the airplane was taxiing towards runway 26 on the snow covered grass area. The FBO representative turned on the runway and taxi lights after hearing the incorrect runway announcement. The pilot shortly announced taxiing to runway 35, while back taxiing on runway 26, after the lights were illuminated. She later announced she was taxiing to runway 17 via taxiway Charlie. About 1745 the announcement for departure from runway 17 was heard; the FBO representative observed the departure at that time. At 1731, the pilot of N102PT contacted the Portland International Jetport (PWM), Portland, Maine, Air Traffic Controller Tower (ATCT) for the IFR clearance from AUG to LNK. At 1732, the controller provided a full route clearance and the pilot read it back correctly. The pilot advised that they would be departing from runway 17 in about 5 minutes. At 1736, the pilot utilized the clearance frequency advising of the engines start and that they were taxing out runway 17, and then stated, correction, taxing for runway 35. At 1741, the pilot advised the controller that they were ready for departure at AUG. The controller instructed the pilot to climb to ten thousand feet and issued the departure release. The pilot read back the instructions. At 1744, the pilot radioed departure control, and reported climbing out of one thousand for ten thousand. At 1745, the controller instructed the pilot to ident, the pilot complied, and the controller established radar contact when the airplane was 2 miles southwest of AUG. The controller then instructed the pilot to proceed direct to Syracuse when able, which the pilot acknowledged. At 1746, the pilot declared an emergency, reporting "We've got an attitude indicator failure." The controller requested the pilot's intentions. At 1747, the pilot stated she wasn't sure which way she was turning. The transmission abruptly cut off at mid-transmission, and about the same time, radar contact was lost. An emergency locater transmitter (ELT) was then received on 121.5 MHz. Radar data recorded by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Boston Center depicted the airplane departing runway 17 at AUG and entering a climbing right turn to a track of about 260 degrees. It maintained that track, while accelerating as it climbed for 38 seconds, before the pilot declared an emergency and indicated an attitude indicator failure. At that moment, the radar depicted the airplane at 3,500 feet, and 267 knots. Thirteen seconds later, the pilot radioed that she did not know which way they were turning. At the time of this transmission, radar data depicted the airplane in a tight left rapidly descending turn, which continued until radar contact was lost. About 1749, local authorities received several 911 calls from residents reporting a possible airplane crash. A short time later, the airplane wreckage was located about 6 miles south-southwest of AUG. One witness stated to local law enforcement authorities that he saw an airplane fly overhead at a low altitude, and moments later, observed a large explosion off in the distance. PERSONNEL INFORMATION The pilot, age 45, held a private pilot certificate, with airplane single engine land, multiengine land, and instrument rating; with type ratings for Cessna 525S and Cessna 500. She was issued a FAA second-class medical certificate on December 6, 2004, with no limitations. At that time, the private pilot reported a total flight experience of 2,800 hours. The pilot's flight logbook was not recovered and presumed onboard the airplane at the time of the accident. On the airplane's insurance application, dated December 12, 2007, the pilot reported the last medical certificate was a third-class issued in November 2007, with a total flight experience of 3,522 hours. Between the FAA medical certificate issued on December 6, 2004, and the date of the accident, no other medical certificates were identified in the pilot's FAA records. The pilot last received recurrent training as required by FAR Part 61.56 for the Cessna 525 from Flight Safety International, San Antonio, Texas, on December 13, 2005. A total of 11 hours of ground school and 6 hours of simulator training were documented. According to information provided by family members and annotated in the airplane insurance policy application, the pilot was scheduled to return to Flight Safety International in March 2008. The pilot's FAA authorization to operate a