ROCHESTER, MN, USA
N8411A
PIPER PA-28-181
THE PILOT SAID WHILE FLYING A COUPLER AUTOPILOT INSTRUMENT APPROACH TO THE AIRPORT AT ROCHESTER, TURBULENCE WAS ENCOUNTERED SHORTLY AFTER PASSING THE MIDDLE MARKER. SUBSTANTIAL DEFLECTIONS OF THE OBS/GS INDICATOR WERE OBSERVED. THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH THE TERRAIN ABOUT 4000 FEET FROM THE RUNWAY. A CROSSWIND OF 17 KNOTS, 50 DEGREES TO THE RUNWAY HEADING WAS PRESENT DURING THE APPROACH.
IMPROPER USE OF AUTOPILOT DURING APPROACH WHICH RESULTED IN PROPER ALIGNMENT NOT MAINTAINED BY THE PILOT. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE TURBULENCE AND CROSSWINDS, OVER CONFIDENCE IN AIRCRAFT'S CAPABILITY AND OVERCONFIDENCE IN PERSONAL ABILITY.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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