On Friday, the NTSB on published the preliminary report for the Piper Meridian that crashed on February when the turboprop single struck a TV tower guy wire during an instrument approach to Lubbock Preston Smith International Airport (LBB) Texas. The sole-occupant pilot was killed in the accident and the Part 91-operated aircraft was destroyed.
An ATC recording confirmed the pilot was initially set up on the RNAV Y approach to Runway 35L but was pulled out of the sequence possibly for traffic. Radio and radar contact with the aircraft was lost while it was being vectored for the second approach.
Before the accident, the pilot acknowledged a report of moderate rime ice at 5,200 feet msl/1,918 feet agl about 10 miles south of the airport. On the approach, the aircraft would have crossed the 35L final approach fix—UFACI—at approximately 1,700 feet agl. A witness near the TV tower reported cold temperatures and very low clouds but no precipitation about the time he saw a large flash of light followed by the tower collapsing upon itself. A surveillance video shot 1.6 miles from the accident site recorded the airplane in a 30-degree nose-low descent before the flash of light after which the aircraft disappeared. Weather at LBB, 10 miles north of the accident site, reported an overcast at 700 to 800 feet, northeast winds gusting to 31 knots and a temperature of 28 degrees F.