Piper PA-31T Cheyenne II — Other Documents

This document is the final report from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) regarding an aviation accident involving a Piper PA-31T Cheyenne II. The accident occurred on December 28, 2019, shortly after takeoff from Lafayette Regional Airport in Louisiana. The report details the circumstances leading to the crash, including the flight's departure, the pilot's actions, and the aircraft's performance data. It also discusses the weather conditions at the time of the accident, the pilot's experience, and the aircraft's mechanical status. The report concludes with the NTSB's determination of the probable cause of the accident, which was attributed to the pilot's loss of control due to spatial disorientation during the initial climb in instrument meteorological conditions.

• The accident involved a Piper PA-31T Cheyenne II, registration N42CV.
• The flight crashed shortly after takeoff, resulting in five fatalities and two serious injuries.
• The aircraft reached a peak altitude of 925 ft and a peak airspeed of 197 knots before losing control.
• Weather conditions included low visibility and a cloud ceiling of 200 ft, contributing to spatial disorientation.
• The pilot had approximately 730 hours of experience in the PA-31T and had not received recent training under instrument conditions.