History of Flight
On August 10, 2010, at 2111 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 172M, N21363, was substantially damaged when it struck trees and terrain shortly after taking off from Orange Municipal Airport (ORE) in Orange, Massachusetts. The two certificated private pilots on board were fatally injured. Night visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the personal flight destined for Hancock County-Bar Harbor Airport in Maine. The flight was conducted under Part 91 of the Federal Aviation Regulations.
Earlier that day, the left-seat pilot contacted the Raleigh Automated Flight Service Station to file a flight plan, indicating that two persons would be onboard and that he would be the pilot. No further communications with the flight were recorded.
A lineman at ORE reported that the right-seat pilot had arranged for after-hours fuel service. The lineman fueled the airplane with 26.9 gallons of 100LL aviation fuel at 2055, noting that both pilots appeared normal and alert. The pilots did not sump the fuel tanks. The lineman directed them to runway 32 and observed the engine run-up, which sounded normal. He watched the airplane depart around 2110, describing the takeoff as smooth and the engine as sounding like it was at full power. The airplane made a right turn north after takeoff.
A witness near the departure end of runway 32 heard the engine spitting and sputtering with popping noises, which seemed to smooth out as the airplane turned. Another witness heard the engine noise become quieter before impact. Several other witnesses reported unusual engine sounds.
FAA radar data showed the airplane at 1,200 feet mean sea level northwest of ORE at 2110:10, climbing to 1,400 feet, then descending to 1,300 feet before radar contact was lost at 2110:57.
Aircraft Information
The 1974-model Cessna 172M was equipped with a Lycoming O-320-E2D engine and was registered to the right-seat pilot. The most recent annual inspection was on June 29, 2010, at 3,237 total flight hours. The engine had been overhauled on September 13, 1985, and had accumulated 2,296 hours since.
Meteorological Information
Weather reported at ORE at 2052 included calm winds, 9 statute miles visibility, a broken ceiling at 8,500 feet, temperature 24°C, dew point 22°C, and an altimeter setting of 29.86 inches of mercury. Satellite and radar imagery showed clear skies with no precipitation. Sunset occurred at 1958, and the moon set at 2004.
Personnel Information
The left-seat pilot held a private pilot certificate issued on July 12, 2010, after two previous unsuccessful attempts. He had logged 101 total flight hours, all in the accident airplane, with 3.9 hours of night flight experience logged in October 2010, but none in the eight months preceding the accident. His medical certificate had a limitation due to monocular vision, which was removed after a medical flight test in May 2010.
The right-seat pilot held a private pilot certificate and reported 2,788 total flight hours on his most recent medical application in November 2009, with no flight time in the preceding six months. No recent flight logs were located, and his currency could not be determined. Neither pilot held an instrument rating.
Wreckage and Impact Information
The wreckage was located about 1.2 nautical miles north of the departure end of runway 32, at an elevation of 575 feet. The initial impact point was at the crest of a hill with 70-foot-tall trees. The wreckage path was oriented approximately 60 degrees magnetic and was about 285 feet long. The main wreckage rested among several trees. The right wing had leading edge crush damage consistent with tree impact, and the fuel tank was ruptured and empty. The left wing was largely separated, with extensive crush damage. Control continuity was established from flight controls to the cockpit. The throttle was found about 2 inches aft of full power, the mixture was full rich, and the fuel selector was on BOTH. The propeller blades showed S-bending and forward bending, with minor scratching.
Engine examination revealed no anomalies: crankshaft rotated freely, compression was established on all cylinders, spark plugs were clean and light gray, magnetos produced spark, and oil and fuel filters were clean. The carburetor was broken and void of fuel. The vacuum pump had a sheared drive shaft and fractured rotor, with no evidence of pre-impact lock-up.
Medical and Pathological Information
Autopsies performed on both pilots determined the cause of death as multiple injuries. Toxicological testing of the right-seat pilot was positive for amlodipine and citalopram; testing of the left-seat pilot was positive for quinine.
Tests and Research
Data from a handheld GPS receiver recovered from the wreckage showed the airplane taxiing at 2106, accelerating on runway 32 at 2108, then climbing and turning northeast. At about 2110, it entered a left turn and began descending from a maximum GPS altitude of 1,611 feet at a groundspeed of 66 knots. The descent rate increased to over 3,800 feet per minute, then averaged over 2,000 feet per minute for 14 seconds. Groundspeed varied between 101 and 50 knots. The final recorded position was at 2111:15, 560 feet northwest of the initial impact point, at an altitude of 876 feet, groundspeed 88 knots, and descent rate 1,770 feet per minute.
The second GPS receiver yielded no recoverable data.
Additional Information
After the accident, the airport manager found two dead birds on runway 32 near the centerline. One was identified as a Tree Swallow. Examination of the airframe found no evidence of a bird strike, but feathers with an aged appearance were found inside the horizontal stabilizer, identified as European Starling. A bird nest had been removed from the tail section during the most recent annual inspection.
According to FAA Advisory Circular 60-4A, spatial disorientation can occur when visual references are lost, and it may take up to 35 seconds to regain control by instruments. The circular notes that natural horizon or surface references may become obscured even in visual flight conditions, particularly at night.