Private Pilot Flying At Night Traveling To A Conference Fatally Injured

The NTSB has released its preliminary report from an accident which occurred August 9th that fatally injured a private pilot, the only occupant of the airplane. The pilot had been sending text messages shortly before the accident, according to the board.

The report states that on August 9, 2015, about 2325 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA 32R-300, N43829, was substantially damaged when it impacted trees and terrain east of the Harbor Springs Airport (KMGM), Harbor Springs, Michigan. The private pilot was fatally injured. The airplane was registered to the Tuskegee Airman National Historical Museum and operated by a private individual under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Dark night visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight, which operated without a flight plan. The flight originated from the Detroit, Michigan, area at an unknown time.

According to the Emmet County Sheriff's Department and colleagues of the pilot, he was flying to KMGM for a conference. He communicated with a colleague via text message and indicated he would arrive at KMGM around 2325. The wreckage of the airplane was located at 0730 on August 10, by employees of Emmet Brick & Block. The initial impact point was located at the top of a tree several hundred feet east of the main wreckage.

The main wreckage of the airplane was located on the edge of the Emmet Brick & Block property, in sloping and forested terrain. The nose of the airplane was oriented to the east and the main wreckage of the airplane included the fuselage, empennage, and engine and propeller assembly. The right wing separated and came to rest immediately adjacent and to the north of the main wreckage. The left wing separated and came to rest uphill and to the south of the main wreckage.

(Image from file. Not accident airplane)

FMI: www.ntsb.gov