History of Flight
On October 13, 2014, at 2305 central daylight time, a Piper PA-46-310P airplane, N9126V, collided with trees and impacted the ground in a residential area following a missed approach to Runway 36 at the Dubuque Regional Airport (DBQ), Dubuque, Iowa. The private rated pilot, who was the sole occupant on board the airplane, sustained fatal injuries and the airplane was destroyed. The airplane was registered to Grand River Emergency Department Consultants LLC and operated under 14 CFR Part 91 as a personal flight. Dark night instrument meteorological conditions prevailed and an IFR flight plan was filed. The flight originated at Ankeny Regional Airport (IKV) about 2200.
The pilot departed DBQ for IKV earlier that afternoon, arriving about 1700. A friend reported meeting the pilot at IKV around 2015 and last saw him at about 2100. At 2200, the pilot contacted Des Moines Departure Control and received an IFR clearance to DBQ. By 2204 he reported airborne. The flight proceeded via radar vectors and direct routing, climbing to 7,000 ft. At 2217, control was handed off to Chicago Center. The pilot canceled IFR with center at 2259:52 and switched to advisory frequency.
Radar data showed the airplane turned onto a 360° heading at 2302, descending through 2,700 ft at 480 ft/min. One minute later it was heading 357° at 2,100 ft with a 600 ft/min descent. The last radar position placed the airplane near the airport. Witnesses on the airport saw and heard the airplane. One witness observed it break out of clouds about 100 ft above ground level (agl) over runway 36, then re-enter clouds three-quarters of the way down the runway. Another witness heard the engine at full power. A third witness saw the airplane's lights glow overhead in low clouds and mist. A fourth witness saw the airplane at approximately 60 to 70 ft agl, level, at full power, heading north over the runway. Shortly thereafter, a call was received that an airplane had crashed on Military Road north of the airport.
Personnel Information
The pilot, age 59, held a private pilot certificate with single-engine land and instrument airplane ratings. His logbook showed 1,003 total hours and 76.7 hours in the preceding 90 days. He completed a flight review on November 8, 2013, and an instrument proficiency check on March 2, 2011. He met instrument currency requirements by conducting 11 instrument approaches under actual conditions within 90 days. He held a third-class medical certificate dated January 22, 2014, with the limitation "Must Wear Corrective Lenses."
Aircraft Information
The airplane was a Piper PA-46-310P Malibu, serial number 4608087, manufactured in 1987, with a standard airworthiness certificate in the normal category. It was powered by one Continental TSIO-550-C1B engine (350 hp) and a 4-blade MT-Propeller. The airframe underwent an annual inspection on June 5, 2014, with 4,785 total hours. The engine had 1,093.7 hours at that inspection. Subsequent entries on June 22 and July 28, 2014, recorded oil filter replacements and oil servicing.
Meteorological Information
At 2253, the routine weather report for DBQ indicated: wind 360° at 10 knots, ceiling 200 ft overcast, visibility 5 statute miles with light rain and mist, temperature 13°C, dew point 13°C, altimeter 29.46 inHg. Remarks noted rain ended at 2218 and began again at 2243. A sounding from Davenport at 1800 depicted a saturated environment with relative humidity >80% from the surface to 6,000 ft. The expected cloud base was 400 ft agl. The freezing level was at 11,557 ft. The wind profile showed strong veering with height, indicating potential low-level wind shear and turbulence.
Wreckage and Impact Information
The accident site was located in a residential area about 3,600 ft north-northwest of DBQ. Initial impact occurred with a line of approximately 80-ft-tall trees at GPS N4225.245 / W090.43.223, elevation 1,088 ft. Propeller pieces and tree branches with 45-degree cuts were found. A 14-inch propeller blade tip was located about 200 yards south of the tree line, showing leading edge chips. The wreckage path continued north along a 360° heading, with a debris field starting from a large L-shaped ground impact scar. The fuselage came to rest on the northeast side of a tree, oriented on a magnetic heading of about 235°. The left wing was folded over the fuselage. The forward cabin was broken open and consumed by post-impact ground fire. The engine was found inverted about 25 ft north of the main wreckage, separated from the firewall. All four propeller blades were broken off at the hub. The engine was retained for examination.
Medical and Pathological Information
An autopsy performed on October 14, 2014, by the Iowa Office of the State Medical Examiner determined the cause of death as blunt force trauma and thermal injuries. Toxicological tests conducted by the FAA's Civil Aerospace Medical Institute were negative for all tested substances.
Tests and Research
The engine was disassembled and examined at Continental Motors on June 15–16, 2016. No anomalies were found that would have prevented the engine from producing full power.