AAIB investigation to Piper PA-28-140 Cherokee, G-BHXK

Loss of control and impact with high ground, near Loch Etive, Oban, Argyll and Bute, 4 April 2015.

• From: Air Accidents Investigation Branch
• Published: 14 January 2016

• Category: General aviation - fixed wing
• Report type: Bulletin - Field investigation
• Date of occurrence: 4 April 2015
• Aircraft type: Piper PA-28-140 Cherokee
• Location: Near Loch Etive, Oban, Argyll and Bute
• Registration: G-BHXK

Summary:

The aircraft was on a private flight from Dundee Airport to Tiree Airport. While established in the cruise at an altitude of 6,500 ft it entered a gentle right turn, the rate of which gradually increased with an associated high rate of descent and increase in airspeed. The aircraft struck the western slope of a mountain, Beinn nan Lus, in a steep nose-down attitude. Both persons on board were fatally injured.

No specific cause for the accident could be identified but having at some point entered IMC, the extreme aircraft attitudes suggest that the pilot was experiencing some form of spatial disorientation and the recorded data and impact parameters suggest that the accident followed a loss of control, possibly in cloud.

Download report:

Piper PA-28-140 Cherokee, G-BHXK 01-16

Download glossary of abbreviations:

Glossary of abbreviations

Published 14 January 2016