History of Flight
On August 10, 2014, at about 0217 Alaska daylight time, a Piper PA-24-250 airplane, registration N5158P, sustained substantial damage during an in-flight collision with trees and terrain while attempting to land on Runway 7 at Big Lake Airport, Big Lake, Alaska. The flight had departed Merrill Field Airport, Anchorage, Alaska, about 0202 under visual flight rules (VFR). Dark night, visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. The private pilot was fatally injured, and the sole passenger sustained serious injuries.
The pilot had been in Anchorage for a social visit and was returning home to Big Lake. The passenger stated that they departed Anchorage after visiting a local bar, and that there were no mechanical problems with the airplane during the flight. Archived surveillance video confirmed witnesses who reported the pilot and passenger leaving a bar about 0119.
Radar data showed the aircraft departed Merrill Field and proceeded north toward Big Lake Airport, passed over the airport, then turned 180 degrees back to the airport before disappearing about the time of the accident.
Personnel Information
The pilot, age 50, held a private pilot certificate with airplane multi-engine land and single-engine land ratings. His most recent third-class medical certificate was issued on March 18, 2011, with a limitation that he must wear corrective lenses. On his medical application, he reported about 2,500 total flight hours, with none in the previous 6 months.
Aircraft Information
The four-seat, low-wing, retractable tricycle gear airplane, serial number 24-174, was manufactured in 1958. It was powered by a Lycoming O-540-A4C5 engine. No airframe or engine logbooks were found; total time and annual inspection status were unknown.
Meteorological Information
The closest weather reporting facility, Wasilla Airport, reported at 0236: wind 060° at 5 knots, visibility 10 statute miles, overcast at 10,000 feet, temperature 57°F, dew point 43°F, altimeter 29.63 inHg.
Airport Information
Big Lake Airport is a public airport in Class E airspace, elevation 158 feet. It had one gravel runway (7/25), 2,450 feet long by 70 feet wide, with medium intensity runway lights. A tree line 840 feet from Runway 7 threshold and 30 feet right of centerline penetrated the 20:1 obstacle clearance surface by about 14 feet.
Wreckage and Impact Information
The main wreckage was located in gravel-covered terrain alongside a road adjacent to the airport. The initial impact site was marked by two broken treetops atop 40-foot birch trees, about 50 feet south of the extended runway centerline and 830 feet from Runway 7 threshold. The initial ground scar was about 135 feet from the impact point.
The cockpit was extensively damaged. The throttle was in mid-range, mixture and propeller control near full forward, carburetor heat on, ignition switch in "both," landing gear selector down. The fuselage separated from the empennage at the production joint. Both wings sustained impact damage. The engine and propeller showed impact damage consistent with power at impact. Control continuity was later established. No evidence of mechanical malfunctions or failures was found.
Medical and Pathological Information
A postmortem examination attributed the pilot's death to multiple brain injuries. The pilot had an enlarged heart with coronary artery disease. Toxicology tests found ethanol in peripheral blood (0.192 gm/dl) and vitreous (0.228 g/dl), methanol at low levels, sildenafil, desmethylsildenafil, and zolpidem (0.002 ug/ml) in urine and blood.
Survival Aspects
The airplane had lap belts and shoulder harnesses. First responders reported the pilot had fastened his lap belt but not the shoulder harness.
Tests and Research
GPS data from a portable unit showed the accident flight departed Merrill Field about 0202, proceeded north, then west toward Big Lake, made a straight-in approach to Runway 25, passed over the threshold, climbed, continued west for about 1 mile, then made a 180-degree left turn toward Runway 7, after which the track ended.
An engine examination by Lycoming Engines found no anomalies or malfunctions.