| Crash location | 29.239166°N, 81.078889°W |
| Nearest city | Daytona Beach, FL
29.210815°N, 81.022833°W 3.9 miles away |
| Tail number | N21161 |
|---|---|
| Accident date | 09 Jun 2018 |
| Aircraft type | Piper Pa 44 |
| Additional details: | None |
On June 9, 2018, about 1500 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-44-180, N21161, was substantially damaged after impacting terrain while on approach to Daytona Beach International Airport (DAB), Daytona Beach, Florida. The flight instructor and private pilot receiving instruction sustained minor injuries. No flight plan was filed for the local instructional flight that was conducted under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident.
The flight instructor stated they received a local instrument clearance and were on the RNAV RWY 16 approach when they encountered rain around the final approach fix. The rain increased in intensity as they continued the approach. Shortly after passing the final approach fix they received a low altitude alert from air traffic control. The flight instructor added full power and attempted to climb; however, the airplane continued to lose altitude while "still indicating 90 knots throughout descent and impact."
A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector examined the airplane where it came to rest, about 4 miles north of DAB , inverted in a retention pond. The airplane had impacted houses and both wings outboard of the engines were separated.
The four-seat, low-wing, retractable-gear equipped airplane was manufactured in 1978. It was powered by two Lycoming O-360, 180-horsepower engines.
The pilot held a commercial pilot and flight instructor certificates with ratings for airplane single and multiengine land airplanes, and instrument airplane. His most recent FAA first-class airman medical certificate was issued on November 11, 2017, with no limitations.
The private pilot receiving instruction held a private pilot certificate with ratings for airplane single and multiengine land airplanes, and instrument airplane. His most recent FAA first-class airman medical certificate was issued on July 11, 2017, with no limitations.
At 1453, the weather conditions reported at DAB included, wind from 300° at 14 knots gusting to 19 knots, visibility 9 statute miles, thunderstorms, scattered cumulonimbus clouds at 2,500 ft, broken ceilings at 4,100 ft and 7,500 ft, temperature 27°C, dew point 22°C, and an altimeter setting of 30.09 inches of mercury.