History of Flight
On August 20, 2008, at 1028 mountain standard time, a Piper PA-28-180 Cherokee, registration N5316L, sustained substantial damage after colliding with terrain approximately one mile north of the Springerville Municipal Airport in Springerville, Arizona. The two occupants, a private pilot and a passenger, were killed. The airplane was owned and operated by the pilot. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the personal cross-country flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. The intended destination was Quemado Airport in Quemado, New Mexico.
Witnesses reported that after landing at Springerville, the pilot and passenger borrowed the airport courtesy car and drove to a local grocery store. They returned a short time later and loaded an unspecified amount of grocery items, including multiple cases of beer, into the airplane. They then used the car to pick up additional groceries. After returning to the airport, the airplane was "topped" with 24.8 gallons of aviation gasoline (100LL). The pilot then taxied to the active runway.
Witnesses observed the airplane "porpoise" during the takeoff roll, but it became airborne about midfield of runway 03. Another witness stated that shortly after liftoff the airplane appeared to be flying "sideways," then suddenly rolled to the right, pitched nose-low, and impacted the ground.
About 20 minutes before the accident flight, a witness reported that the pilot aborted a takeoff from runway 21. After that attempt, the pilot taxied back to the parking area and said the airplane had a flat tire or tires. Inspection by the pilot showed the tires were not flat, and he then taxied to runway 03 for takeoff.
Pilot Information
The pilot, aged 64, held a private pilot certificate with a single-engine land rating, issued on May 24, 1977. His most recent FAA third-class medical certificate was issued on October 11, 2007, with the limitation "must wear corrective lenses." On that medical application, he reported 1,670 total flight hours. Pilot logbooks were found at the accident site but were fire-damaged, preventing detailed reconstruction of flight times. His most recent flight review was completed on December 4, 2007.
Aircraft Information
The 1968-model Piper PA-28-180 Cherokee (serial number 24-4618) was a low-wing, fixed landing gear airplane configured for four occupants. It was powered by a horizontally opposed, four-cylinder, 180-horsepower engine with a two-blade fixed-pitch propeller. The most recent airframe and engine inspections were completed on October 15, 2007, at an airframe total time of 3,555 hours. The engine had 1,561 hours since overhaul. No known maintenance discrepancies were noted. The approved Airplane Flight Manual for the accident airplane does not contain specific altitude performance parameters.
Meteorological Information
At 1028, the recorded weather at Springerville Airport included winds from 340 degrees at 7 knots, gusting to 14 knots; temperature 24 degrees Celsius; and an altimeter setting of 30.25 inches of mercury. The airport elevation is 7,055 feet, yielding a calculated density altitude of approximately 9,476 feet.
Airport Information
Springerville Municipal Airport, located in a mountainous region, has two hard-surfaced runways: 03/21 (8,422 feet long, 75 feet wide) and 11/29. It is a non-towered, uncontrolled facility. No communications between the accident airplane and ground facilities or other aircraft were known during the accident timeframe.
Wreckage and Impact
The wreckage was found in an open field about 150 feet beyond the departure end of runway 03, on relatively flat terrain with grass and scrub brush. All major components were in the immediate area, with extensive post-impact fire and impact damage. The cockpit and passenger area were destroyed. Control continuity was established to all flight controls, with no cables cut or broken. The flap torque tube position was consistent with retracted flaps. The fuel selector valve was found in the right tank position. The stabilator pitch trim drum was fire-damaged; according to the manufacturer, approximately 10 threads exposed on the upper side indicated a setting of about 50 percent (6 degrees) of the available 12 degrees nose-up trim.
Medical and Pathological Information
An autopsy of the pilot, conducted on August 25 by the Apache County Medical Examiner's Office, attributed the cause of death to "multiple injuries due to blunt force trauma." Forensic toxicology testing by the FAA's Civil Aerospace Medical Institute detected no drugs of abuse.
Engine Examination
On-site examination of the engine revealed continuity of the rocker arm, valve train, and accessory gears when the crankshaft was rotated manually. All four cylinders developed pressure and suction. Bore scope inspection showed no foreign debris or mechanical deformation. Oil was present, and the oil filter media was charred with no metallic debris; the oil suction screen was clean. Both magnetos were separated from the engine due to impact and fire damage. The carburetor remained attached; its fuel inlet screen had no debris. The propeller remained attached to the crankshaft flange. Both blades exhibited "S"-type bending, twisting, and leading-edge gouges. The outboard 5–6 inches of one blade tip were separated and found in the burn area.
Examination of the airframe, engine, and propeller revealed no evidence of a pre-impact failure or anomaly. A comprehensive weight and balance for the airplane was not obtained because most combustible materials were consumed by the post-crash fire.