History of Flight
On November 13, 2009, about 1902 central standard time, a Piper PA-28-180, registration N7736N, was destroyed when it impacted trees and the ground followed by a post-impact fire near Naytahwaush, Minnesota. The airplane was on a cross-country flight and struck terrain about 106 nautical miles from its intended destination. The flight, operated under 14 CFR Part 91 for personal purposes, was conducted in instrument meteorological conditions (IMC) without a filed flight plan. The pilot, the sole occupant, sustained fatal injuries. The airplane departed from Airlake Airport (LVN) near Lakeville, Minnesota, at 1708, en route to Hallock Municipal Airport (HCO) in Hallock, Minnesota.
Radar data indicated that after departure, the airplane climbed to a pressure altitude of about 2,300 feet and proceeded on a heading of approximately 330 degrees. Due to radar coverage limitations, the track was available only for the first 70 miles of the 335-mile flight.
A handheld GPS receiver recovered from the airplane showed a departure from LVN on a heading of about 330 degrees with an average groundspeed of 110 knots. The recorded flight path did not include altitude information. The ground track was not straight, wavering up to 5 miles on either side of a direct course. During the last minute, the airplane turned left from about 340 degrees to 300 degrees, followed by a right turn continuing until the last recorded position at 1902:47, which was 47-14-07.26 north latitude, 95-08-26.4 west longitude. The average groundspeed during the last 20 seconds was about 120 knots. The crash site was about 184 nautical miles from the departure airport; the distance between LVN and HCO was approximately 290 nautical miles.
Pilot Information
The 32-year-old pilot held a private pilot certificate with a single-engine land rating and did not possess an instrument rating. He successfully completed his practical test on October 12, 2009. A family member estimated his total flight experience at about 100 hours. His flight logbook was not recovered. He held a third-class medical certificate issued March 3, 2009, with a requirement to wear corrective lenses.
Aircraft Information
The 1968 Piper PA-28-180, serial number 28-5179, was configured for four occupants and constructed primarily of aluminum. It was a low-wing monoplane with fixed tricycle landing gear. The engine was a Lycoming O-360 rated at 180 horsepower.
Meteorological Information
The accident occurred in a remote area of northern Minnesota. Nearby weather reporting stations included Bemidji (BJI), Fosston (FSE), Detroit Lakes (DTL), and Park Rapids (PKD). At 1851, BJI reported wind 340 at 5 knots, 7 statute miles visibility, overcast ceiling at 400 feet agl, temperature 4°C, dew point 4°C, altimeter 29.70 in-hg. At 1911, similar conditions with wind 350 at 6 knots, same visibility and ceiling. FSE at 1854 reported 360 wind at 4 knots, 10 miles visibility, broken at 9,000 feet, overcast at 11,000 feet. DTL at 1856 reported 350 wind at 5 knots, 10 miles visibility, scattered at 400 feet and 7,500 feet. PKD at 1906 reported wind 010 at 6 knots, 10 miles visibility, light rain, broken at 800 feet, overcast at 1,500 feet.
Communications
At 1047 on the accident day, the pilot contacted Princeton Automated Flight Service Station (AFSS) for an outlook weather briefing for a VFR flight from LVN to HCO at 1800. The briefer informed him that the route would pass through an area covered by an AIRMET for IFR conditions, which were expected to continue, and that low clouds were likely along a stationary front. No further weather briefings were recorded.
Wreckage and Impact Information
The airplane struck trees in a remote wooded area. The empennage remained attached to the aft fuselage. Outboard sections of both wings separated from the inboard sections. The cockpit, forward fuselage, and inboard wings were almost entirely consumed by fire. Examination revealed no pre-impact defects.
Medical and Pathological Information
An autopsy, performed on November 19, 2009, at the Fairview University Medical Center Mesabi morgue in Hibbing, Minnesota, listed multiple severe traumatic injuries and postmortem fire-related injuries. A toxicology report from the FAA was negative for all tested substances.