History of Flight
On December 1, 2014, at 1930 central standard time, a privately owned Piper PA-28-235, registration N8607W, collided with terrain after departing from Fayette County Airport (FYE) in Somerville, Tennessee. Night instrument meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. The personal flight departed FYE around 1915 under 14 CFR Part 91.
The pilot's wife last saw the airplane in their hangar that night. She believed her husband intended to taxi to the fuel pumps for a planned trip. When he did not return, she contacted local authorities. A sheriff's department search at the airport did not locate the airplane, leading to an FAA Alert Notice.
A witness reported dark, misty conditions and heard an airplane overhead followed by the engine revving and a loud crash. The witness did not report the sound initially but directed authorities the next day after learning of a missing airplane. The wreckage was found 3/4 mile from FYE at 0930.
Personnel Information
The 53-year-old pilot held a private pilot certificate with a single-engine land rating and no instrument rating. He received a third-class medical certificate on March 27, 2014, with a limitation requiring corrective lenses. He reported 505 total flight hours and no medical problems or medications. His logbook was not recovered, and the status of his last flight review was unknown.
Aircraft Information
The 1963 Piper PA-28-235, serial number 28-10122, was powered by a 250-horsepower Lycoming O-540 engine with a fixed-pitch McCauley propeller. Its last annual inspection occurred on October 1, 2013, at a tachometer time of 2,557.7 hours. Fueling records showed the pilot purchased 39 gallons of 100LL aviation gasoline at 1907 on the accident evening.
Meteorological Information
The closest weather observation was from Olive Branch Airport (OLV), 24 nautical miles away, at 1850: wind 020° at 9 knots, visibility 4 statute miles with mist, overcast ceiling at 400 feet, temperature 1°C, dew point 1°C, altimeter 30.42 inHg. FYE had no observation at the accident time.
Wreckage and Impact Information
The airplane crashed in a heavily wooded area adjacent to FYE. The debris path, on a 160° magnetic heading, was about 100 feet long with freshly cut tree limbs. A post-impact fire consumed most of the airplane. The propeller separated and was near the main wreckage, showing chordwise scoring and one blade bent forward. Wood fragments with angular cuts and paint transfers indicated propeller strikes.
The fuselage forward cabin separated at the main spar carry-through and was destroyed by fire. All instruments, circuit breakers, and switches were destroyed. Flight control cables exhibited overload failures. Rudder and stabilator control continuity was verified. The flap lever was in the 10-degree position. The fuel selector position could not be determined due to damage.
Both wings were destroyed by fire. The left main fuel tank and tip tank were breached. The right wing fuel tanks were also breached. Airframe examination revealed no preimpact anomalies.
Engine examination showed continuity and compression in all cylinders. The left and right magnetos sparked when rotated. The carburetor was fractured but internal components undamaged. The engine-driven fuel pump produced air when operated manually. No preimpact engine anomalies were noted.
Medical and Pathological Information
An autopsy was performed. Toxicology testing identified ethanol at 0.109 gm% in muscle and 0.039 gm% in brain, exceeding the FAA limit of 0.040 gm%. Additionally, chlordiazepoxide and its metabolite nordiazepam were detected in liver. Chlordiazepoxide, a benzodiazepine, carries warnings about impairing abilities for hazardous tasks and additive effects with alcohol.
Additional Information
FAA Advisory Circular 60-4A discusses spatial disorientation, noting that during low visibility, supporting senses may conflict with sight, making a pilot vulnerable to disorientation. It recommends instrument proficiency and avoiding visual flight rules flight in deteriorating weather.