History of Flight
On July 8, 2011, about 0905 Pacific daylight time, a Piper PA-22-135, registration N8721C, sustained substantial damage when it impacted terrain near Verlot, Washington. The airplane was registered to the pilot and operated under 14 CFR Part 91. The private pilot and his passenger sustained fatal injuries. Visual and instrument meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. The cross-country flight originated from a private airstrip near Elk, Washington, about 0520, with an intended destination of Arlington, Washington.
Family members reported that the pilot intended to attend the Arlington fly-in. The pilot had mentioned possibly diverting to Ellensburg if weather was bad. A family member reported the airplane overdue on July 9, prompting an FAA ALNOT. The wreckage was located by US Navy SAR about 1400 on July 9 in heavily wooded mountainous terrain near Liberty Mountain.
Radar data showed a primary target attributed to the accident airplane beginning about 7 minutes after departure, 3 miles southwest of the departure airport. The track headed west-southwest, then turned northwest west of Chelan. It continued northwest for about 1 hour 18 minutes, then turned northeast for about 2 minutes. The last radar plot ended about 1.6 miles southwest of the accident site.
Personnel Information
The pilot, age 45, held a private pilot certificate with an airplane single-engine land rating. An FAA third-class medical was issued on July 22, 2009, with no limitations. He reported 1,200 total flight hours. No logbook was located.
Aircraft Information
The four-seat, high-wing, fixed-gear airplane, serial number 22-1368, was manufactured in 1953. It was powered by a Lycoming O-290 series engine. No aircraft records were located.
Meteorological Information
An NTSB meteorologist prepared a factual report. The NWS Surface Analysis Chart for 0800 showed a high pressure system off the Pacific northwest coast. Station models indicated westerly wind ≤10 knots and overcast skies.
Arlington Municipal Airport (21 miles northwest, elevation 142 ft msl) reported at 0855: wind calm, visibility 10 SM, few clouds at 900 ft, scattered at 4,900 ft, overcast at 6,000 ft, temperature 12°C, dew point 9°C, altimeter 30.19 inHg.
GOES-11 infrared at 0900 showed extensive low stratiform clouds over western and central Washington. No defined convective clouds. Cloud top temperature indicated tops 7,500-12,000 ft. Visible imagery showed an overcast layer of stratocumulus to nimbostratus obscuring the accident site.
Area forecast for Washington east of Cascades: sky clear, unrestricted visibility. For the Cascades: broken clouds at 5,000-6,000 ft, tops 10,000-12,000 ft. For Puget Sound and interior Mountains: broken at 2,500 ft, broken to overcast 3,500-5,000 ft, tops 8,000-10,000 ft, improving after 1000. Outlook from 1600-2200: VFR.
The NWS Seattle forecast discussion at 0234 indicated an upper low bringing mostly cloudy skies and morning drizzle over western Washington, with mountains mostly obscured.
Wreckage and Impact Information
Examination by the NTSB IIC via helicopter revealed the airplane came to rest on steep sloping terrain about 200 ft below a ridge at elevation about 4,150 ft msl. The wreckage was mostly consumed by fire. No on-scene examination was conducted due to terrain; wreckage was not recovered.
Medical and Pathological Information
The Snohomish County Medical Examiner conducted an autopsy on July 12, 2011, determining the cause of death as “presumed multiple blunt-force injuries.” CAMI toxicology tests on the pilot were positive for an unspecified amount of ibuprofen in urine; no other substances reported.