History of the Flight
On January 3, 2011, at about 1852 central standard time, a Cessna 172H, registered as N1416F, was substantially damaged when it collided with terrain near Walnut Grove, Missouri. The pilot, who was the sole occupant and the owner-operator of the aircraft, was fatally injured. The flight was conducted under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal cross-country trip without a flight plan. Night visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time.
The flight departed Waynesville-Forney Field Airport (TBN) in Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, at approximately 1745. Its intended destination was Bartlesville Municipal Airport (BVO) in Bartlesville, Oklahoma.
According to a friend of the pilot, she drove him to Lancaster Airport (LNS) in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, earlier that morning. They arrived around 0700 eastern standard time and waited for sunrise. The pilot fueled the airplane and departed about 0750 est. The pilot called her twice that afternoon, at about 1430 cst and 1730 cst, indicating his plan to spend the night in Oklahoma and that he had arranged for a hangar and a limousine.
A receipt dated the same day with a time stamp of 0539 est was recovered from the airplane, indicating the purchase of food and beverage items.
Fueling records showed fuel purchases at Pickaway County Memorial Airport (CYO), Circleville, Ohio, at 1158 est; Lawrenceville-Vincennes Airport (LWV), Lawrenceville, Illinois, at 1521 cst; and TBN around 1739 cst.
Radar data from the Springfield-National Airport (SGF) Air Traffic Control Tower depicted the accident airplane near Lebanon, Missouri, at about 1817. The target proceeded west-southwest. At 1839, the airplane was 19.5 nautical miles northeast of SGF at 3,300 feet msl. Around 1851:55, it appeared to enter a left turn from 3,400 feet msl. Five seconds later, it was recorded at 3,100 feet msl. The final radar data point was at 1852:05, about 0.10 nm south of the accident site.
A witness who later located the wreckage reported hearing an airplane engine for about 2 seconds, followed by the sound of impact.
The accident site was in an open field about 11 miles north-northeast of SGF.
Pilot Information
The pilot held a private pilot certificate with a single-engine land airplane rating. He was issued a third-class airman medical certificate without limitations on March 17, 2011. His most recent flight review endorsement was dated March 9, 2010.
The pilot had logged approximately 405 hours total flight time, with about 340 hours in Cessna 172 airplanes and 109 hours of total night flight experience. He had logged about 11 hours within the preceding 90 days.
Aircraft Information
The accident airplane was a 1966 Cessna 172H, serial number 17254911. It was powered by a Continental O-300-D six-cylinder engine, serial number 34505-D-6-D, capable of producing 145 horsepower.
Maintenance records indicated that the most recent annual inspection was completed on January 27, 2010. The airframe had accumulated approximately 2,134 hours at the time of the accident, with about 71 hours since the inspection.
Meteorological Information
Weather recorded by Springfield-Branson National Airport (SGF) Automated Surface Observing System, located about 11 miles south-southeast of the accident site, at 1852 reported wind from 210 degrees at 5 knots, clear skies, and 10 miles visibility.
The sun and moon were both below the horizon at the time of the accident. Sunset occurred at 1709, and civil twilight ended at 1738. The moon had set at 1641, with a new moon occurring at 0303 the following morning.
Wreckage and Impact Information
The airplane impacted an open field about 10.5 nm north-northeast of SGF. The main wreckage was found about 12 feet north of the ground impact crater, which measured about 6 feet in diameter and 3 feet deep, oriented on an approximate 350-degree bearing. A debris field extended about 150 feet long by 75 feet wide, with small debris up to 200 feet from the main wreckage.
The airplane was fragmented. The nose landing gear separated and was found at the impact crater. The cockpit/cabin area was compromised; cabin entry doors separated from the fuselage. Seats with portions of seat tracks were separated from the airframe. The wings were separated and deformed; portions of both ailerons remained attached. The empennage was with the main wreckage; the horizontal and vertical stabilizers with attached rudder and elevator parts were deformed. Rudder and elevator control cables remained attached to their bellcranks and cockpit controls; separations appeared consistent with overload failures. Aileron control cables exhibited continuity at bellcranks and control yoke, with separations between cockpit and wings also consistent with overload.
The engine separated from the airframe and was embedded in the ground. The propeller separated; the crankcase was fractured, and portions of two cylinders separated consistent with impact damage. The separated cylinder sections were recovered at the site.
A postaccident examination revealed no anomalies consistent with a preimpact failure or malfunction.
Medical and Pathological Information
An autopsy of the pilot was performed on January 4, 2011. The cause of death was attributed to blunt force trauma sustained in the accident.
FAA forensic toxicology testing detected nordiazepam in the liver and kidney; tetrahydrocannabinol (marijuana) in the lung, kidney, and liver; and tetrahydrocannabinol carboxylic acid (marijuana) in the liver, kidney, and lung. No ethanol was detected in tissue samples tested.
No history of substance dependence or abuse was noted on the pilot's FAA airman medical certificate applications.
Additional Information
According to local law enforcement, 12 bags, each containing approximately 1 ounce of marijuana, were recovered from the airplane after the accident.