Flight History
The wreckage of a Piper PA-32R-300, N4085F, was found on March 29, 2011, in a wooded area approximately 9 miles west-southwest of Fredricktown, Missouri. The discovery followed an alert notice issued on March 28, 2011, due to a family concern about a missing aircraft. The airplane was operated by the pilot under 14 CFR Part 91. Night marginal visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The flight originated from Flagler County Airport in Palm Coast, Florida, and was en route to Chippewa Valley Regional Airport in Eau Claire, Wisconsin. An invoice from a fixed-base operator at Ormond Beach Municipal Airport, dated March 26, 2011, showed a charge for a tie-down and 67 gallons of 100 low-lead fuel for N4085F.
Pilot Information
The pilot, aged 61, held a private pilot certificate with airplane single-engine and multi-engine land ratings. His most recent FAA medical certificate, issued September 27, 2007, was a third-class certificate requiring corrective lenses. At that time, he reported 2,900 total flight hours and 20 hours in the preceding six months. His logbooks were requested but not provided. An autopsy revealed the pilot had disqualifying heart disease that had not been reported to the FAA. The cause of death was multiple injuries from the crash. Toxicology tests were negative for all tested substances.
Aircraft Information
The 1976 Piper PA-32R-300, serial number 32R-7680427, was registered to Neplusultra Corp. It was powered by a Lycoming IO-540-K1G5 engine. The aircraft logbooks were requested but not provided. The wreckage examination showed substantial damage to the fuselage and wings. A post-crash fire occurred. The landing gear was retracted, and the flaps were in the retracted position. Flight control continuity was confirmed. Both propeller blades exhibited S-shaped bending and chordwise twisting consistent with engine power at impact. The fuel selector was positioned to the left tank, and fuel was present in the system. The engine displayed no pre-impact mechanical anomalies.
Wreckage and Impact
The wreckage path was approximately 180 feet long along a heading of about 028 degrees, with an elevation of 1,338 feet mean sea level at the main wreckage. The southwestern end showed broken treetops about 30 feet high, with aircraft structure embedded. The fuselage was upright and oriented on a tail-to-nose heading of about 152 degrees. The engine was separated. The emergency locator transmitter was found broken apart.
Meteorological Information
The Chicago Aviation Area Forecast issued March 26, 2011, covered the area. For the accident region, forecasts included overcast ceilings at 2,000 to 3,000 feet MSL with mist and visibility 3 to 5 statute miles. Observations from nearby Farmington Regional Airport and Cape Girardeau Regional Airport around the time of the accident indicated overcast ceilings ranging from 800 to 1,600 feet AGL with 10 statute miles visibility.
Additional Data
A Garmin GPSMAP 296 recovered from the wreckage recorded a last velocity of 128 knots ground speed on a track of 0.7 degrees magnetic, approximately 11 nautical miles west of Fredricktown. GPS altitude showed a descent from about 1,700 feet to 1,374 feet.