Pilot Reported Severe Turbulence Before Fatal Accident
The
National Transportation Safety Board says the pilot of a 1955 Piper
PA-23-180 Geronimo twin reported severe turbulence in the vicinity
of thunderstorms shortly before the aircraft apparently broke apart
in midair, and crashed in western North Carolina last month.
Duane Moorer Sr., 49, and his 22-year-old son Duane Jr. were
flying from Louisville, KY to an airport south of Atlanta, GA when
the aircraft impacted terrain near the city of Highlands on July
29. Both men were killed in the crash.
According to the Board's preliminary report, the aircraft lost
its left wing and empennage inflight shortly after the plane
altered course to divert around an area of extreme turbulence.
"Preliminary air traffic control (ATC) information provided by
the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), revealed the airplane
was at 9,200 feet heading southeast, at 1448, when the pilot
reported that he was encountering severe turbulence and intended to
reverse direction to divert around the weather," the Board states.
"Radar data indicated the airplane continued on its southeasterly
heading for about another minute, and then made an approximate
270-degree left turn to a westerly heading. The airplane continued
for about three more minutes until the last radar hit was observed
at 1453, in the vicinity of the accident site."
Conditions at the time of the crash were reported VFR, though
thunderstorm cells were noted in weather bulletins at three
airports located within a 70-mile radius of the accident site -- to
the northeast, northwest, and southeast of Highlands.
A witness on the ground told investigators he heard what
"sounded like a helicopter when it starts up or shuts down." He
looked up, and saw as the Piper's left engine departed the
airframe, and continue to travel with some "upward momentum" in a
west/northwest direction.
The NTSB adds another section of the aircraft structure fell to
the ground near where the witness was standing; at the same time,
he heard the airplane impact in the wooded area across the street,
impacting in a near-vertical attitude.
Investigators found the wing and empennage about 1/4 mile from
the primary accident site. The engine was recovered about a half
mile away.
Both men were licensed pilots. Duane Moorer Sr. was an ATP-rated
pilot for UPS, with a reported 11,920 hours of flight time. His son
held a private pilot license and first-class medical, but was rated
only for single-engine land planes.
The elder Moorer had recently purchased the accident aircraft
from a Florida dealer.