UKIAH, CA, USA
N15847
PIPER PA-28-180
THE PLT ENCOUNTERED SPATIAL DISORIENTATION & LOST CONTROL OF HIS ACFT DURING CLIMB WHILE ATTEMPTING TO REVERSE COURSE IN COMPLIANCE WITH AN ATC CLEARANCE. IMC EXISTED & THE ACFT ACCELERATED TO ABOVE ITS MANEUVERING SPEED. WHEN THE PLT ATTEMPTED TO RECOVER THE LEFT WING BROKE UNDER POSITIVE AIR LOADS AT MID-SPAN (OUTBOARD OF THE EXTRUDED SPAR). NO LOG BOOK RECORD WAS FOUND INDICATING THAT THE PLT HAD FLOWN UNDER IFR CONDITIONS IN AT LEAST 6 MONTHS. THERAPEUTIC LEVELS OF DIAZEPAM WERE FOUND IN THE PLT'S LIVER.
THE PILOT FAILED TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF HIS AIRCRAFT. CONTRIBUTING FACTORS WERE THE PILOT'S LACK OF RECENT IFR EXPERIENCE, SPATIAL DISORIENTATION AND HIS FAILURE TO PERFORM REMEDIAL ACTION.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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