History of Flight
On June 9, 2012, at 1126 eastern daylight time, a Phillips Challenger II, registration N1279T, was substantially damaged during a collision with terrain while maneuvering for landing at Blackwater Airpark (9FD2) in Plant City, Florida. The pilot/owner sustained fatal injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the local flight that had departed the airpark about 1110. The flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91.
According to the airport manager, who observed the entire flight, the purpose was for the pilot to take one last flight before selling the airplane, as he had experienced health issues and undergone surgery in prior years and had not flown in approximately one year. The takeoff was described as normal. The first landing approach was fast and long, prompting a go-around. On the second approach, the airplane descended on the base leg to about 500 feet, then turned and aligned with the runway. During final approach, the airplane pitched up, leveled off, descended, and pitched up multiple times with corresponding engine power changes. Witnesses observed the airplane wander to the west, flying parallel to the runway before pitching up, dropping its nose, and impacting the ground in a nose-down attitude of about 25–30 degrees. The engine was running at cruise power during the descent and impact, and continued running after the accident; first responders had to pull one of the carburetors from its mount to stop it.
Personnel Information
FAA records showed that the pilot did not hold a current pilot certificate. His most recent certificate, a student pilot certificate, expired on April 30, 2009. A review of his logbooks indicated he first logged an entry in 1952 and last logged an entry in 2006, having accrued 122 total hours of flight experience. His most recent third-class FAA medical certificate was issued in November 2007. The pilot possessed a valid driver’s license.
Aircraft Information
The airplane was a two-place, high-wing, single-engine model with fixed landing gear. It was purchased in 1993, certificated in 2007, and registered to the pilot/owner. Maintenance records showed that the most recent condition inspection was completed on June 5, 2012, at 19 total aircraft hours.
Meteorological Information
At 1115, weather conditions at Plant City Municipal Airport (PCM), about 7 miles north of the accident site, included wind from 160 degrees at 3 knots, a broken cloud ceiling at 5,000 and 8,500 feet, visibility 10 miles, temperature 30°C, dew point 24°C, and an altimeter setting of 30.02 inches of mercury.
Wreckage and Impact Information
Examination of the wreckage revealed that all major components were present. The wreckage path was oriented 030 degrees magnetic and was approximately 180 feet long. The initial impact point was on the west side of the north/south runway, with a ground scar crossing the runway at an approximate 30-degree angle. The airplane came to rest upright on the east side of the runway. Fragments from the nose landing gear and nose enclosure were scattered along the path. The bottom of the fuselage was crushed upward, and the fore and aft cabin structure was folded into the cockpit area. The engine support structure collapsed, resting the engine on the bottom of the airframe. Control continuity was confirmed from the cockpit to the flight control surfaces. The two-bladed wooden propeller had both blades fractured and splintered near the hub, with fragments along the path. No defects or anomalies were found that would have precluded normal operation.
Medical and Pathological Information
An autopsy performed by the Hillsborough County Medical Examiner Department determined that the pilot died from blunt injuries to the head and neck. Forensic toxicology by the FAA detected no carbon monoxide, cyanide, or ethanol. Atenolol was detected in blood and urine, and clonidine was detected in urine. Atenolol is a beta1-selective adrenoreceptor blocking agent used for high blood pressure and cardiovascular disease; clonidine is a centrally-acting alpha-agonist hypotensive agent with side effects including dizziness and fatigue, and its use was a disqualifying condition for FAA medical certification. The pilot's medical history, according to his wife and acquaintances, included coronary artery disease, an old heart attack, an implanted pacemaker, aortic valve replacement, mitral valve repair, stage III renal failure, high blood pressure, and a stroke. The pacemaker logbook recorded no arrhythmias on the day of the accident. It could not be determined to what degree the pilot’s general health or use of medication affected his performance.