Piper PA-46 (Malibu/Meridian/Mira... crash, Jun 14, 2002 (3 killed)
Piper PA-46 (Malibu/Meridian/Mirage/Matrix/M-Class) accident on June 14, 2002 near Osteen, Florida, United States with 3 fatalities. Cause: The pilot's...
- Date: June 14, 2002
- Aircraft: Piper PA-46 (Malibu/Meridian/Mirage/Matrix/M-Class)
- Location: Osteen, Florida, United States
- Fatalities: 3
- Phase of flight: En route
- Cause: The pilot's inadequate weather evaluation and failure to keep control after entering thunderstorm activity, which led to in-flight separation of the right wing and horizontal stabilizer.
A Piper Malibu flying IFR from Raleigh-Durham to Marco Island tried to pass through a gap between thunderstorm cells near Osteen. Radar showed an uncontrolled descent from about 27,500 feet, and the right wing separated in flight. Witnesses saw the airplane come out of cloud in a nose low spiral, and all three aboard were killed.