FORT LAUDERDALE, FL, USA
N44CQ
PIPER PA-32-300
WHILE MAKING THE NIGHT APPROACH WITH VISIBILITY GREATER THAN 10 MILES, THE PILOT FLEW THE ILS APPROACH TO THE DECISION HEIGHT, AND THEN CONTINUED THE APPROACH VISUALLY. THE AIRCRAFT COLLIDED WITH THE APPROACH LIGHTS AND SEVERED THE LANDING GEAR. THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK A BLAST FENCE AND ADDITIONAL APPROACH LIGHTS BEFORE COMING TO REST SHORT OF THE RUNWAY. THE PILOT STATED HE WAS POSSIBLY DISTRACTED BY LIGHTS ON THE INTERSTATE HIGHWAY JUST BEFORE THE RUNWAY. HE ALSO SAID THE VISUAL APPROACH SLOPE INDICATOR WAS OPERATING, AND THAT HE WAS FATIGUED FROM A LONG DAY AND 7 HOURS OF FLYING.
On November 23, 1995, about 0048 eastern standard time, a Piper PA-32-300, N44CQ, registered to Otto Enterprises, Inc., collided with two fences and the approach lights during approach to runway 9 left at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, while on a 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and an instrument flight rules flight plan was filed. The aircraft received substantial damage and the commercial-rated pilot and two passengers received minor injuries. The flight last departed Savannah, Georgia, on November 22, 1995, about 2200. The pilot stated that the visibility was greater than 10 miles. He was cleared by air traffic controllers to fly the instrument landing system approach to runway 9 left. He flew the approach to the decision height and continued the approach under visual flight rules. He was "possibly" distracted by the street lights on the interstate highway and the approach lights appeared to be the same color as the street lights. The runway lights were set to a low intensity. The aircraft struck the approach lights and the landing gear was sheared off. The aircraft struck another object and then touched down on top of another set of approach lights. The aircraft touched down on the ground and skid to a stop. Examination of the accident site was performed by an FAA inspector. The aircraft first contacted the approach lights mounted on poles in the middle of Interstate 95. Components of the aircrafts landing gear were found on the interstate. The aircraft then collided with a jet blast fence and came to rest short of the approach end of the runway. The pilot told the FAA inspector that the visual approach slope indicator was working. The pilot also told the FAA inspector that he had worked for 2 hours that day and departed Delaware about 1630. He flew for 4 hours to Savannah and then another 3 hours to Fort Lauderdale. He stated his passengers were asleep at the time of the accident and that he was feeling some fatigue. See inspector statement.
THE PILOTS FAILURE TO FOLLOW THE VISUAL APPROACH SLOPE INDICATOR AND MAINTAIN A PROPER GLIDEPATH DURING APPROACH. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS PILOT FATIGUE.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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