Piper PA-31 Cheyenne crash, Dec 15, 2012 (2 killed), Ely
Piper PA-31 Cheyenne accident on December 15, 2012 near Ely, Nevada, United States with 2 fatalities. Cause: The pilot failed to regain control after a...
- Date: December 15, 2012
- Aircraft: Piper PA-31 Cheyenne
- Location: Ely, Nevada, United States
- Fatalities: 2
- Phase of flight: En route
- Cause: The pilot failed to regain control after a sudden rapid descent during cruise, which exceeded the design stress limits and caused an in-flight structural failure.
A Cheyenne I was cruising at 24,000 ft on autopilot when the pilot asked to leave the radio frequency. About 20 seconds later the aircraft banked right, began a spiral descent and broke apart in flight, scattering wing, tail and control surface sections. Both occupants were killed.