3 fatal · PIPER PA-23-250 · 2012-10-13 · Charlotte Amalie, USA
Event
NTSB number
ERA13LA019
Event ID
20121015X92424
Type
Accident
Date
2012-10-13
Location
Charlotte Amalie, USA
Coordinates
18.240833, -65.055274
Injuries
Highest injury
FATL
Fatal
3
Serious
1
Minor
0
Uninjured
0
Total aboard
4
Aircraft
Make
PIPER
Model
PA-23-250
Registration
N5553Y
FAR Part
091
Engines
2
Damage
SUBS
Conditions
Light
NDRK
Weather
VMC
Probable cause
The pilot's attempted visual flight rules (VFR) flight into marginal VFR conditions on a dark night over water and his failure to maintain sufficient altitude, which resulted in the airplane’s controlled flight into water. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's inadequate preflight weather planning.