History of Flight
On September 16, 2014, about 1140 eastern daylight time, a Piper J3C-65, registration N95480, collided with the Chattahoochee River near Fort Gaines, Georgia. The airline transport pilot and pilot-rated passenger were fatally injured, and the airplane was substantially damaged. The airplane was registered to and operated by the pilot under 14 CFR Part 91 as a personal flight. Day visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. The flight originated from Headland Municipal Airport (0J6), Headland, Alabama, about 1000 central daylight time, and was destined for Weedon Field (EUF), Eufaula, Alabama.
There were no known witnesses. The airplane was not equipped with a transponder, and no radar or GPS data was found. After the flight did not arrive at its destination, a search and rescue operation was initiated. The wreckage was located on September 23, 2014, in a remote area of the river in about 10 to 15 feet of water, and was recovered on September 24, 2014.
Personnel Information
The pilot, age 44, held an airline transport pilot certificate with ratings for airplane single engine land, multi-engine land, single engine sea, rotorcraft-helicopter, and instrument helicopter. He was also a flight instructor with multiple ratings. He reported 5,700 total flight hours, with 200 hours in the last six months, on his July 23, 2014, first-class medical application. The certificate was unrestricted.
The pilot-rated passenger, age 43, held an ATP certificate with airplane multi-engine land, single engine land, rotorcraft-helicopter, and instrument helicopter ratings. He did not possess a current FAA medical certificate and reported 1,600 total flight hours, including 900 hours in airplanes, on his most recent FAA rating application dated February 18, 2012.
Aircraft Information
The airplane was a Piper J3C-65 manufactured in 1942, powered by a Continental A75-8F engine rated at 65 horsepower, and equipped with a Sensenich wooden fixed-pitch propeller. An annual inspection was performed on August 9, 2014, with an airframe total time of 2,698 hours. The pilot purchased the airplane on September 1, 2010.
Meteorological Information
At 1135 EDT, the surface observation at Blakely, Georgia (BIJ), about 12 miles southeast of the accident site, reported broken clouds at 1,800 feet, overcast at 2,200 feet, wind from 200° at 4 knots, and visibility 10 statute miles or greater. At 1037 CDT (1137 EDT), the observation at Eufaula, Alabama (EUF), about 21 miles northwest, reported scattered clouds at 1,400 feet, broken at 2,100 feet, variable wind at 4 knots, visibility 10 statute miles or greater, and altimeter 30.06 inches of mercury.
Wreckage and Impact Information
Initial examination revealed all major structural components were accounted for. The left and right main landing gear were found downstream. Flight control continuity was confirmed. Both wings remained intact and partially connected; the right wing showed crushing from leading edge aft. The empennage was intact, and the engine remained attached to the firewall. Both propeller blade tips were broken; remaining roots were splintered.
The fuel tank was ruptured at a lower seam weld. The fuel cap was secure; the fuel quantity indicator indicated empty, and the indicator pipe was bent 90 degrees. The fuel strainer was broken, and the bowl missing. The fuel lever was in the "on" position; throttle in mid-range.
The engine was intact. Crankshaft rotation confirmed continuity to all cylinders. Compression and suction were confirmed. Spark plugs had dark deposits and normal wear. The oil screen was free of metallic particles. Left and right magnetos were water-saturated; after drying, the left magneto produced spark on three of four leads; no spark on the right. The carburetor bowl was full of water; no fuel present. No anomalies were found upon engine disassembly; internal continuity was confirmed. No abnormalities would have prevented normal operation.
Medical and Pathological Information
Postmortem examination of the pilot noted cause of death as "multiple blunt force trauma in conjunction with asphyxia due to drowning," manner "accident." Toxicology detected 60 mg/dL ethanol in liver, 48 mg/dL in muscle, and n-propanol in liver; given decomposition, ethanol likely from other sources. Rosuvastatin (Crestor) was found; the pilot reported esomeprazole (Nexium) on his medical application but not Crestor.
For the pilot-rated passenger, cause of death was "multiple blunt force trauma," manner "accident." Toxicology showed 81 mg/dL ethanol in liver, 134 mg/dL in muscle, and n-propanol/n-butanol. Desmethylsertraline, diphenhydramine, and sertraline were detected. Sertraline (Zoloft) and diphenhydramine are medications.
Survival Aspects
First responders noted lap belts were connected, but shoulder harnesses were not connected and undamaged. The pilot was found in the rear cockpit, partially out of the aircraft with one foot lodged; the passenger was in the front seat.
Tests and Research
Fueling records from 0J6 showed the pilot attempted to purchase 100LL fuel on the morning of the accident at 0719 and 0724 CDT using two credit cards, totaling 0.173 gallons. The reason for the limited purchase was not determined. A similar occurrence two days earlier involved 0.182 gallons purchased with two transactions. It was not determined if the pilot obtained fuel elsewhere.