SALINA, KS, USA
N9758K
PIPER PA-24
AFTER DEPARTING THE AIRPORT UNDER VERY POOR IFR WEATHER CONDITIONS, THE PLT RPT AUTOPILOT PROBLEMS OF AN UNSPECIFIED NATURE. THIS WAS FOLLOWED BY REPORTS OF INSTRUMENT TROUBLES.RADAR CONTROLLERS GAVE THE PLT A NO-GYRO TURN TO THE LEFT. AFTER THE INSTRUCTIONS WERE ISSUED THE ACFT DISAPPEARED OFF RADAR. INSPECTION OF THE ACFT DID NOT REVEAL ANY MALFUNCTION OF CONTROLS. THE SEPARATED WING DID NOT EXHIBIT ANY PRE-EXISTANT CRACKS AND WAS FOUND LYING INVERTED IN THE FIELD 50 FEET FROM THE MAIN WRECKAGE. WITNESSES HEARD THE ACFT FLY OVERHEAD AT A VERY LOW ALTITUDE AND THE SOUND OF THE ENGINE RUNNING AT FULL POWER. THEY ALSO HEARD THE ACFT HIT THE GROUND JUST A VERY SHORT TIME AFTER THE ACFT FLEW OVERHEAD. NO MECHANICAL DIFFICULTY WAS FOUND TO ACCOUNT FOR THE LOSS OF CONTROL. VACUUM SYSTEM EXAMINATION DID NOT REVEAL ANY PRIOR FAILURE.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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