Piper PA28 N5167L accident near Ontonagon, Michigan

Probable cause

The non-instrument-rated pilot’s decision to continue visual flight into instrument meteorological conditions with thunderstorm activity, which resulted in spatial disorientation and a loss of airplane control.

NTSB analysis

The pilot, who was not instrument rated, was conducting a personal flight in visual meteorological conditions when he flew into an area of instrument meteorological conditions (IMC) with thunderstorm activity. After flying several minutes in IMC, the airplane entered a left turn that became increasingly tighter along with a with a rapid climb that was followed by a rapid descent until the airplane impacted the ground. The airplane was destroyed.

Postaccident examination revealed no evidence of a preexisting mechanical malfunction or failure that would have precluded normal operation of the airplane. The spiral flightpath with significant changes in altitude was consistent with the pilot experiencing the effects of spatial disorientation. Weather imagery indicated an outflow boundary ahead of the main cumulonimbus cloud line. The pilot likely encountered gusty and turbulent wind conditions when the airplane flew into the outflow boundary. The adverse weather conditions likely contributed to the pilot’s spatial disorientation. The pilot did not receive a weather briefing before the flight.

Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for CEN19FA247 for the full record.