Additional Participating Entity:
Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Cleveland, Ohio
Aviation Accident Final Report - National Transportation Safety Board: https://app.ntsb.gov/pdf
Investigation Docket - National Transportation Safety Board: https://dms.ntsb.gov/pubdms
Aviation Accident Data Summary - National Transportation Safety Board: https://app.ntsb.gov/pd
http://registry.faa.gov/N105MK
Location: Gustavus, OH
Accident Number: CEN18LA014
Date & Time: 10/16/2017, 2112 EDT
Registration: N105MK
Aircraft: DIAMOND AIRCRAFT IND INC DA 40
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Defining Event: Controlled flight into terr/obj (CFIT)
Injuries: 1 Serious, 1 None
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General Aviation - Personal
Analysis
The private pilot was maneuvering to land at the destination airport after a cross-country flight in dark night, visual meteorological conditions. The pilot reported that he became disoriented as he orbited the airport waiting for the airport manager to turn on the runway lights, which resulted in him believing that he was on final approach to runway 1 instead of runway 19. The pilot stated that, during final approach, he incorrectly identified a crossing road that he believed was about 3/4 mile south of the runway 1 approach threshold; however, the road he observed was about 1 mile north of the airport. The pilot stated that he and his passenger suddenly saw tree branches appear as the airplane descended on final approach. The pilot immediately increased engine power and airplane pitch in an attempt to avoid the trees, but the right wing impacted a tree, and the airplane subsequently impacted terrain about 1/2 mile north of runway 19.
The pilot reported that there were no mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot had previously flown 7 hours during nighttime conditions; however, he had not flown at night within the 238 days preceding the accident. According to federal regulations, pilots are prohibited from acting as pilot-in-command with passengers at night unless they have completed three night takeoffs and three night landings within the previous 90 days. An ancillary benefit of pilots maintaining their regulatory night flight currency is that it demonstrates their having an adequate level of proficiency of night flight operations on a recurring basis. The pilot's lack of recent night flight experience likely contributed to his becoming disorientated while maneuvering in the airport traffic pattern, the airplane descending below a normal approach path, and the collision with trees.
Probable Cause and Findings
The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident to be:
The pilot's geographic disorientation while maneuvering in the airport traffic pattern in dark night conditions, which resulted in the airplane descending below a normal approach path and a collision with trees. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's lack of recent night flight experience.
Findings
Aircraft
Descent/approach/glide path - Not attained/maintained (Cause)
Personnel issues
Geographic disorient (lost) - Pilot (Cause)
Aircraft control - Pilot (Cause)
Recent experience - Pilot (Factor)
Environmental issues
Dark - Effect on personnel (Cause)
Tree(s) - Effect on operation
Factual Information
On October 16, 2017, about 2112 eastern daylight time, a Diamond Aircraft Industries DA40 single-engine airplane, N105MK, collided with trees and terrain while on final approach to Gustavus Airport (OH33), Gustavus, Ohio. The private pilot was seriously injured, his passenger was not injured, and the airplane sustained substantial damage. The airplane was registered to and operated by the pilot under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91 without a flight plan. Night visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the cross-country flight that departed at 1730 central daylight time from Bult Field Airport (C56), Monee, Illinois.
The pilot reported that he had originally planned to land at Northeast Ohio Regional Airport (HZY), Ashtabula, Ohio; however, as the flight approached HZY he was unable to activate the airport's runway lights using the designated common traffic advisory frequency. The pilot subsequently diverted to OH33 and telephoned the airport manager to have the runway lights turned on. The pilot reported that he became disoriented as he orbited the airport waiting for the runway lights to be turned on, which resulted in him believing that he was on final approach to runway 1 instead of runway 19. The pilot stated that during final approach he incorrectly identified a crossing road that he believed was about 3/4 mile south of runway 1 approach threshold; however, the road he observed was about 1 mile north of the airport. The pilot stated that he and his passenger suddenly saw tree branches appear as the airplane descended on final approach. The pilot immediately increased engine power and airplane pitch in attempt to avoid the trees, but the right wing impacted a tree and the airplane subsequently impacted terrain about 1/2 mile north of runway 19. The right wing, aft fuselage, and empennage sustained substantial damage during the impact sequence. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
At 2051, the Youngstown-Warren Regional Airport automated surface observing system located about 12 miles south of the accident site reported: calm wind, a clear sky, 10 miles surface visibility, temperature 5°C, dew point 0°C, and an altimeter setting of 30.28 inches of mercury.
The United States Naval Observatory data indicated that the sunset and end of civil twilight at the accident site were at 1840 and 1908, respectively. Moon transit, the time at which the moon is highest in the sky, occurred at 1051 and the moonset was at 1726. Additionally, the accident site was located in a sparsely populated area with minimal illumination from ground light sources. As such, dark nighttime conditions likely existed at the time of the accident.
The pilot reported that he had previously flown 7 hours during nighttime conditions; however, he had not flown at night within the 90 days preceding the accident. He reported that his most recent night flight was completed on February 20, 2017, during which he made a night landing on runway 1 at OH33. According to federal regulation 14 CFR Part 61.57(b), pilots are prohibited from acting as pilot-in-command with passengers at night unless they have completed 3 night takeoffs and 3 night landings within the previous 90 days.
History of Flight
Approach-VFR pattern final
Controlled flight into terr/obj (CFIT) (Defining event)
Pilot Information Certificate: Private
Age: 71, Male
Airplane Rating(s): Single-engine Land
Seat Occupied: Left
Other Aircraft Rating(s): None
Restraint Used: 3-point
Instrument Rating(s): None
Second Pilot Present:No
Instructor Rating(s): None
Toxicology Performed: No
Medical Certification: Class 3 With Waivers/Limitations
Last FAA Medical Exam: 10/04/2016
Occupational Pilot: No
Last Flight Review or Equivalent: 02/20/2017
Flight Time: 778 hours (Total, all aircraft), 402 hours (Total, this make and model), 668 hours (Pilot In Command, all aircraft), 36 hours (Last 90 days, all aircraft), 18 hours (Last 30 days, all aircraft), 11 hours (Last 24 hours, all aircraft)
Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information
Aircraft Manufacturer: DIAMOND AIRCRAFT IND INC
Registration: N105MK
Model/Series: DA 40
Aircraft Category: Airplane
Year of Manufacture: 2002
Amateur Built: No
Airworthiness Certificate: Normal
Serial Number: 40.244
Landing Gear Type: Tricycle
Seats: 4
Date/Type of Last Inspection: 04/11/2017, Annual
Certified Max Gross Wt.: 2535 lbs
Time Since Last Inspection:
Engines: 1 Reciprocating
Airframe Total Time: 768.4 Hours at time of accident
Engine Manufacturer: Lycoming
ELT: C91A installed, not activated
Engine Model/Series: IO-360-M1A
Registered Owner: On file
Rated Power: 180 hp
Operator: On file
Operating Certificate(s) Held: None
Meteorological Information and Flight Plan
Conditions at Accident Site: Visual Conditions
Condition of Light: Night/Dark
Observation Facility, Elevation: YNG, 1192 ft msl
Observation Time: 2051 EDT
Distance from Accident Site: 12 Nautical Miles
Direction from Accident Site: 180°
Lowest Cloud Condition: Clear
Temperature/Dew Point: 5°C / 0°C
Lowest Ceiling: None
Visibility: 10 Miles
Wind Speed/Gusts, Direction: Calm
Visibility (RVR):
Altimeter Setting: 30.28 inches Hg
Visibility (RVV):
Precipitation and Obscuration: No Obscuration; No Precipitation
Departure Point: Monee, IL (C56)
Type of Flight Plan Filed: None
Destination: Gustavus, OH (OH33)
Type of Clearance: None
Departure Time: 1730 CDT
Type of Airspace: Class G
Airport Information
Airport: Gustavus Airport (OH33)
Runway Surface Type: Grass/turf
Airport Elevation: 1096 ft
Runway Surface Condition: Dry
Runway Used: 19
IFR Approach: None
Runway Length/Width: 3300 ft / 90 ft
VFR Approach/Landing: Traffic Pattern
Wreckage and Impact Information
Crew Injuries: 1 Serious
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Passenger Injuries: 1 None
Aircraft Fire: None
Ground Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 1 Serious, 1 None
Latitude, Longitude: 41.453611, -80.692778
NTSB Identification: CEN18LA014
14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Monday, October 16, 2017 in Gustavus, OH
Aircraft: DIAMOND AIRCRAFT IND INC DA 40, registration: N105MK
Injuries: 1 Serious, 1 Uninjured.
This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this report will be corrected when the final report has been completed. NTSB investigators may not have traveled in support of this investigation and used data provided by various sources to prepare this aircraft accident report.
On October 16, 2017, about 2112 eastern daylight time, a Diamond Aircraft Industries DA40 single-engine airplane, N105MK, collided with trees and terrain while on final approach to Gustavus Airport (OH33), Gustavus, Ohio. The private pilot was seriously injured, his passenger was not injured, and the airplane sustained substantial damage. The airplane was registered to and operated by the pilot under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91 without a flight plan. Night visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the cross-country flight that departed at 1730 central daylight time from Bult Field Airport (C56), Monee, Illinois.
The pilot reported that he had originally planned to land at Northeast Ohio Regional Airport (HZY), Ashtabula, Ohio; however, as the flight approached HZY he was unable to activate the airport's runway lights using the designated common traffic advisory frequency. The pilot subsequently diverted to OH33 and telephoned the airport manager to have the runway lights turned on. The pilot reported that he became disoriented as he orbited the airport waiting for the runway lights to be turned on, which resulted in him believing that he was on final approach to runway 1 instead of runway 19. The pilot stated that during final approach he incorrectly identified a crossing road that he believed was about 3/4 mile south of runway 1 approach threshold; however, the road he observed was about 1 mile north of the airport. The pilot stated that he and his passenger suddenly saw tree branches appear as the airplane descended on final approach. The pilot immediately increased engine power and airplane pitch in attempt to avoid the trees, but the right wing impacted a tree and the airplane subsequently impacted terrain. The right wing, aft fuselage, and empennage sustained substantial damage during the impact sequence. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
At 2051, the Youngstown-Warren Regional Airport automated surface observing system located about 12 miles south of the accident site reported: calm wind, a clear sky, 10 miles surface visibility, temperature 5°C, dew point 0°C, and an altimeter setting of 30.28 inches of mercury.
The United States Naval Observatory data indicated that the sunset and end of civil twilight at the accident site were at 1840 and 1908, respectively. Moon transit, the time at which the moon is highest in the sky, occurred at 1051 and the moonset was at 1726. Additionally, the accident site was located in a sparsely populated area with minimal illumination from ground light sources. As such, dark nighttime conditions likely existed at the time of the accident.
The pilot reported that he had previously flown 7 hours during nighttime conditions; however, he had not flown at night within the previous 90 days. He reported that his most recent night flight was completed on February 20, 2017, during which he made a night landing on runway 1 at OH33. According to federal regulation 14 CFR Part 61.57(b), pilots are prohibited from acting as pilot-in-command with passengers at night unless they have completed 3 night takeoffs and 3 night landings within the previous 90 days.
The Diamond DA40 Star aircraft made a crash landing about 9:15 p.m. Monday in a field near a wooded area as it approached a small privately owned airstrip in the rural area of northern Trumbull County.
The pilot has been identified as Robert Gale, 71, and his passenger, Louis Gale, 50, both of Jefferson in Ashtabula County.
The pilot was taken by ambulance to St. Elizabeth Youngstown Hospital for treatment of non life-threatening injuries. The passenger refused treatment.
Investigators are at the scene where the damaged white aircraft remains. They are working to determine the cause of the crash.
Original article ➤ http://www.tribtoday.com
GUSTAVUS TWP., Ohio (WKBN) – A plane carrying two people crashed in Gustavus Township Monday night.
According to the Ohio State Highway Patrol, Robert Gale, 71, of Jefferson, was too slow making a landing approach to the Gustavus Airport on Barclay Road and hit a tree, forcing the Diamond DA40 Star down on a farm about 1/2 mile from the landing strip.
Gale was taken to St. Elizabeth Hospital. His passenger, 50-year-old Louise Gale, was treated at the scene.
The crash remains under investigation.
The Gustavus Airport is a privately owned airstrip.
Story and video: http://wkbn.com
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