History of Flight
On October 4, 2013, at 1300 mountain standard time, a Cessna 340A, registration N312GC, collided with a radio tower while maneuvering near Paulden, Arizona. The airplane was operated by the private pilot under 14 CFR Part 91 as a personal flight. The pilot and three passengers sustained fatal injuries, and the airplane was substantially damaged. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. The flight departed from Bullhead City, Arizona, at about 1130.
Several witnesses at a gun club reported that the airplane made one high-speed, low pass from north to south over the club's buildings, then maneuvered for another low pass from east to west. During the second low pass, the airplane collided with an approximately 50-foot-tall radio tower. The tower's base was triangular, with sides about two feet in length; the right wing sheared off about 10 feet of the tower. After impact, the airplane rolled right to an almost inverted attitude and subsequently struck trees and terrain approximately 700 feet southwest of the initial impact point. One witness stated that the airplane remained in straight and level flight until the collision. That witness also reported that the pilot, a client of the gun club, had "buzzed" the club three to four years prior and had been told not to do so again.
Personnel Information
The 57-year-old pilot held a private pilot certificate with ratings in single- and multi-engine land, helicopter, and instrument airplane. FAA records show a third-class medical certificate issued August 16, 2012, with a limitation requiring glasses for near vision. At the time of medical application, the pilot reported 4,006 total flight hours.
Aircraft Information
The six-seat, low-wing, retractable landing gear airplane, serial number 340A0023, was manufactured in 1975. It was powered by two Continental Motors TSIO-520 engines. The last annual inspection was completed on April 25, 2013, at which time the airframe total time was 7,690.0 hours. The left and right engine tachometer times were 2,491.0 hours and 609.5 hours since major overhaul, respectively.
Communications
At 1128, the pilot contacted Lockheed Martin Flight Service, reporting he was on the ground at Bullhead City and planned to fly to Prescott, Arizona. He inquired about a temporary flight restriction (TFR) at Prescott and asked when the airport would reopen. The specialist confirmed the airport would open at 1130, but runways 12 and 30 were closed for fixed-wing traffic due to air show activities. The specialist provided an AIRMET for moderate turbulence below 14,000 feet along the route. The conversation ended at 1131.
At 1204, the pilot contacted flight watch, reporting he was 15 miles south of Kingman, Arizona, and wanted to confirm the TFR end time. The specialist confirmed it ended at 1130. The pilot provided a pilot report of in-flight weather: at 11,500 feet, light chop to smooth air, winds from 340° at 12 knots, outside air temperature 1°C. The conversation ended at 1209. No further communications occurred.
Wreckage and Impact Information
The right wing struck the radio tower, shearing off the top 10 feet. The right wing folded upward after impact, and the airplane rolled right to an almost inverted position. It then struck trees and terrain about 700 feet southwest of the tower. A postcrash fire consumed the wreckage.
Medical and Pathological Information
The Yavapai County medical examiner performed an external examination of the pilot, listing cause of death as "blunt force trauma and thermal injury." Toxicological samples revealed Metoprolol in urine and muscle, Rosuvastatin in urine, and Zolpidem in urine and muscle.
Tests and Research
The wreckage was recovered to a secured facility in Phoenix, Arizona. Postaccident examination of the engines and airframe found no evidence of mechanical malfunction or failure that would have precluded normal operation. Detailed reports are in the public docket.