History of Flight
On July 27, 2013, at 1438 central daylight time, a Piper PA-28R-200 airplane, registration N1549X, impacted Lake Michigan approximately 1.2 miles east of Cudahy, Wisconsin. The airline transport pilot and a passenger were fatally injured. The airplane was destroyed. The flight was operated under 14 CFR Part 91 as a personal flight, departing from John H Batten Airport (KRAC) in Racine, Wisconsin, at 1431. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed; no flight plan was filed.
An employee at a fixed base operator at KRAC observed the pilot in the parking lot with 4-5 individuals before the flight and later heard the pilot on radio with air traffic control. The pilot was receiving VFR flight following from Milwaukee approach, receiving vectors to fly east over Lake Michigan and then north. While on a northerly heading, the pilot flew 1.4 miles behind the final approach course of an MD-80 aircraft inbound to General Mitchell International Airport (KMKE). Shortly after, radar contact was lost and the controller could not reach the pilot. Milwaukee ATC alerted the US Coast Guard and local authorities, and about 30 minutes later, a dive team located the wreckage at the bottom of Lake Michigan.
Personnel Information
The left-seat pilot, age 79, held an airline transport pilot certificate with multiengine and single-engine land ratings, plus flight instructor and advanced ground instructor certificates. He held a Class 2 limited medical certificate issued January 7, 2013, requiring corrective lenses for near and distant vision. His medical application reported 32,920 total flight hours, including 350 in the previous six months. His logbooks were not recovered.
The right-seat pilot, age 31, held a private pilot certificate for single-engine land. A Class 3 medical certificate was issued September 7, 2011, with no limitations. His medical application reported 200 total flight hours, 25 in the previous six months; his logbooks showed about 173 total hours. His most recent flight review was on November 3, 2012.
Aircraft Information
The airplane was a 4-seat, low-wing, single-engine Piper PA-28R-200 Arrow, N1549X, serial number 28R-7535322, manufactured in 1975. It was powered by a Lycoming IO-360-C1C engine (serial number L-13237-51A) driving a 3-blade metal Hartzell propeller. The most recent annual inspection was completed on July 1, 2013.
Meteorological Information
At 1452, an automated weather reporting facility at KMKE, 3 nautical miles west of the accident site, reported wind from 300 degrees at 13 knots, visibility 10 miles, scattered clouds at 3,400 feet, overcast at 4,000 feet, temperature 61°F, dewpoint 45°F, and barometric pressure 29.91 inches of mercury.
Wreckage and Impact Information
The main wreckage was located in Lake Michigan at 42:57.883 N, 087:49.06 W, at a depth of 46 feet, 3.2 miles east of the departure end of runway 25L at KMKE and 1.2 miles from the Cudahy shoreline. The airplane was fragmented; about 50% was recovered. The fuselage was broken into three sections. The left wing separated, with the outboard section not recovered. The right wing inboard section stayed attached. The rudder and stabilator were damage-attached. Flight control cables were continuous from cockpit to rudder and stabilator; aileron cables were separated in overload near the wing roots. Landing gear was retracted. Engine control levers were forward with friction lock on; cables were attached. The engine rotated freely, with compression and suction from all cylinders. Both magnetos produced no spark due to water contamination. Spark plugs appeared normal. Water and oil residue in crankcase. Propeller blades displayed aft bending and leading edge damage. Fuel system components showed aviation gasoline odor.
Additional Information
Air traffic control communications indicated the pilot was instructed to turn east and later to pass behind an MD-80. The pilot acknowledged and reported traffic in sight. Radar data showed the flight path crossing the MD-80's path at 1,800 feet, 39 seconds after the MD-80 passed. The last transponder return showed 1,400 feet altitude at 1437:54, followed by four primary radar returns.
Medical examinations revealed the cause of death for both pilots was multiple blunt force injuries, ruled accident. Toxicology reports were negative for all screened substances.