Flight and Radar Data
The pilot of a Piper PA-23 completed a 30-minute pre-buy inspection before departing from SUS at 1700. Two pilots in a Cessna 182 departed 5-7 minutes later, sharing the same route to Odessa, TX. The Cessna encountered no issues.
Radar data showed the PA-23's flight track became erratic in heading and altitude between 1800 and 1821. At 1809, the aircraft began descending from 8,500 ft msl, reaching 2,000 ft msl by 1821, the last recorded return. During this 12-minute period, the aircraft executed a series of inconsistent descending turns, moving eastward. The final radar return was approximately 0.5 nautical mile from the accident site.
Impact and Damage
The airplane impacted the ground in a steep nose-down attitude. Leading edges of both wings exhibited crush damage. Cable continuity to flight controls was confirmed. Propeller blades showed "S" bending, leading edge gouges, and chordwise scratching. Broken tree branches and limbs had prop slashes and gray paint transfer.
Post-Accident Examination
A toxicology test was performed, but a carbon monoxide test could not be conducted due to an inadequate blood sample. The NTSB Materials Laboratory examined the muffler and heater muff assembly. Microscopic examination of the muffler revealed oxidation damage on the internal wall, with areas appearing black, consistent with pre-existing fractures exposed to the environment. By visual estimate, the total combined length of oxidation damage penetrating the wall was at least 20% of the muffler body circumference. Fractures from the heat exchanger collector tube showed minor tinting consistent with short-term (post-crash) heat exposure. The outer layer of the tube had a decarburized layer typical of prolonged high-temperature exposure. The heater muff fracture surface showed no evidence of tinting.