History of Flight
On May 30, 2010, about 0830 mountain daylight time, a Piper PA-34-220T Seneca, N44MC, was destroyed after colliding with trees and mountainous terrain approximately 7 miles west of Lincoln, Montana. The private pilot and passenger were fatally injured. The airplane was registered to R&D Aviation, Inc, of Huntington Woods, Michigan, and operated by the pilot as a visual flight rules (VFR) cross-country flight under Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed. A VFR flight plan was filed but not activated. The flight originated from Helena, Montana at 0812, destined for Cranbrook, British Columbia, Canada.
The accident airplane was one of twelve participating in a guided air tour. The tour had been delayed one day due to poor weather. After departing Helena at 0812, the pilot reported being 5 miles to Seeley Lake at 8,500 feet. Shortly thereafter, he reported encountering clouds at 8,500 feet and receiving a low-altitude alert on his GPS. The tour organizer advised him to remain in visual conditions and maintain visual contact with the ground. Minutes later, an indistinct transmission was heard, followed by a transmission believed to be the passenger stating "we have a problem" and "we've hit trees." No further communications were received. The FAA issued an Alert Notice at 1202. On June 1, about 1430, the wreckage was located by Montana Civil Air Patrol.
Personnel Information
The pilot, age 60, held a private pilot certificate with ratings for airplane single engine land, multiengine land, and instrument airplane. On his most recent FAA medical certificate application, dated September 21, 2009, he listed 1,522 total flight hours and 39 hours in the preceding six months. He held a second-class medical certificate requiring corrective lenses. Personal flight logbooks were not located.
Aircraft Information
The airplane was a Piper PA-34-220T Seneca, serial number 34-8133095, powered by two Teledyne Continental Motors TSIO-360 reciprocating engines rated at 200 maximum continuous horsepower each. An annual inspection was completed in April 2010 with no open discrepancies.
Meteorology Information
At 0853, weather at Helena (45 miles southeast) reported calm winds, visibility 10 miles, few clouds at 5,000 feet, temperature 7°C, dew point 3°C, altimeter 30.00 inHg. At 0840, Drummond (30 miles southwest) reported calm winds, visibility 10 miles, broken clouds at 5,500 feet, temperature 7°C, dew point 4°C. A pilot in the vicinity at the time reported a scattered to broken cloud layer with bases between 7,000 and 7,500 feet, with rain and mountain obscuration.
Wreckage and Impact Information
The crash site was at an elevation of about 6,780 feet on terrain with a 30-40 degree slope and dense conifer trees. The debris field spanned about 45 feet. A large conifer tree adjacent to the impact crater was topped 25 feet above its base. Multiple trees along the wreckage path had fresh slash marks. The main wreckage—cockpit, fuselage, and both engines—was in a crater 15 feet in diameter and 4 feet deep, oriented at 270 degrees magnetic. The forward section was destroyed. The outboard right wing and aileron tip were missing and not recovered. Both wings showed heavy impact damage consistent with tree strikes. The engines were partially separated from their firewalls.
Medical and Pathological Information
Postaccident toxicological testing by the FAA’s Civil Aerospace Medical Institute detected acetaminophen and diphenhydramine in the pilot. Ethanol detected in muscle specimens was determined to be from sources other than ingestion. Diphenhydramine is an antihistamine with sedative effects.
Additional Information
On July 13, 2010, the engines were examined in Belgrade, Montana, by representatives from the NTSB, Teledyne Continental Motors, and Piper Aircraft. The engines sustained extensive impact damage, but no evidence of preimpact mechanical malfunction or anomalous wear was found.