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.

FMI: Read The Full NTSB Prelim