What happened
A pilot and passenger were engaged in a coyote predation flight in a Piper PA-22-150 when the accident occurred. After successfully shooting one coyote, the pilot spotted a second coyote approximately 400 yards ahead of the aircraft. The pilot executed a low-altitude pass using a right slip to target the animal. During this maneuver, the passenger attempted a shot but missed, and the coyote moved to the left. While the passenger expected the pilot to turn left, the aircraft instead turned right and impacted the ground.
The investigation
Data recovered from an onboard Garmin GPSMAP295 unit provided latitude, longitude, time, and elevation information from takeoff until the moment of impact. This data indicated that the aircraft had been performing frequent low-altitude turning maneuvers for several minutes prior to the final recorded target.
Post-crash examination of the aircraft showed extensive damage to the right wing, which had separated from the fuselage. Damage to the left wing was limited to the outboard section of the leading edge. The impact occurred in a nose-low, right-wing-down attitude, characterized by a moderate upward crush angle from the firewall to the propeller. An FAA inspector present at the scene found no evidence of any mechanical or powerplant malfunction.
Findings
Both occupants survived the initial impact; however, the pilot sustained injuries that led to their death four days later. The passenger was not injured.