History of Flight
On July 25, 2013, at 0900 central daylight time, a Piper PA-30 twin-engine airplane, registration N8306Y, was substantially damaged when it crashed into a residential area while attempting to return to Amarillo Tradewind Airport (TDW), Amarillo, Texas, after the loss of power to the left engine. The pilot, the sole occupant, sustained fatal injuries. The flight was conducted under Part 91 in visual meteorological conditions with dissipating thunderstorm activity. The flight originated at 0855 from TDW, destined for Lubbock, Texas.
After takeoff from Runway 17, the pilot contacted Amarillo Approach for VFR flight following and reported left engine problems. He stated he was returning to the airport. The controller asked if he wanted to declare an emergency; the pilot declined, noting the airport was in sight and the left engine had stopped. Radar followed the airplane until it disappeared. The airplane impacted nose-down into the yard of a home in a densely populated residential area. No ground injuries occurred.
A security camera video showed the aircraft returning at slow speed, then turning sharply left and descending below trees. A witness, a local pilot, reported the left propeller was not turning and was not feathered.
ATC communications detailed the pilot’s call at 0830:18 for departure, check-in at 0833:06 at 4,500 feet, and at 0836:29 reporting return due to engine trouble. At 0836:59, the pilot confirmed the left engine was out and declined emergency declaration. Radar service was terminated after the pilot reported the airport in sight.
Pilot Information
The pilot held a private pilot certificate issued March 23, 2013, with single- and multi-engine land ratings. A second-class medical certificate was issued November 11, 2011, with a corrective lenses restriction. According to incomplete records, the pilot had logged about 50 hours in the accident airplane.
Aircraft Information
The airplane was a 1967 Piper PA-30 Twin Comanche. It had two previous accidents in 1967, one with substantial damage and one with destruction. Fuel records showed 22 gallons of 100LL aviation fuel added on July 22, 2013.
The left engine was overhauled June 12, 1987; last annual inspection on April 1, 2013 at 1,876.0 Hobbs hours, total time 5,836 hours. The right engine was overhauled June 12, 1990; last annual inspection on April 1, 2013 at 1,876.0 Hobbs hours, total time 3,755 hours.
Meteorological Conditions
The nearest weather station was Amarillo International Airport (AMA), 6.5 miles east-northeast. NEXRAD radar indicated a line of thunderstorms passed just before departure. METAR observations at 0804 showed wind 100° at 14 knots, visibility 8 miles in thunderstorms with light rain, scattered clouds at 4,300 feet, broken at 9,000, overcast at 11,000. At 0853, wind 120° at 12 knots gusting 16, visibility 10 miles, thunderstorms in area, broken at 5,500 and 7,000, overcast at 9,000. At 0904, wind 120° at 13 knots, visibility 2.5 miles in thunderstorms with light rain and mist, broken at 5,500 and 6,500. Heavy rain had occurred all week; the airplane was parked outside on the ramp.
Wreckage and Impact Information
The crash site was 0.8 miles from the approach end of Runway 17 at TDW. The airplane struck the rear of a home, separating the right wing, and came to rest near the front door. No post-impact fire occurred. The left propeller was not feathered and showed no rotational signatures; the right propeller displayed signatures consistent with being driven at impact. Landing gear was partially extended.
Fuel system examination revealed the left main sump was about 75% full of water, confirmed with water-disclosing paste. The right sump contained mostly fuel with a trace of water. Fuel selector handles were between MAIN and AUX positions; the left tip tank switch was in TIP, the right in AUX.
Left engine examination found no internal mechanical anomaly. The engine-driven fuel pump sample tested positive for water. Cylinder 2 and 4 fuel injector nozzles were blocked. Right engine examination found no internal anomaly; fuel pump sample tested negative for water. All injector nozzles were clear.
Medical and Pathological Information
Autopsy on July 27, 2013, listed cause of death as blunt force injuries. Toxicology tests were negative for drugs, alcohol, and carbon monoxide.
Additional Information
The airplane was released to the owner's representative.