History of Flight
On December 30, 2014, about 0330 mountain standard time, a Piper PA-28-181 airplane, N2558M, impacted terrain during a descent near Vaughn, New Mexico. The private pilot and one passenger were fatally injured. The airplane sustained substantial damage. The airplane was registered to the pilot and operated by Pilot's Choice Aviation, Inc., under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Night instrument flight rules (IFR) conditions prevailed for the flight, which did not operate on a flight plan. The flight originated from Lamesa Municipal Airport (2F5), near Lamesa, Texas, about 0140, and was destined for Albuquerque, New Mexico.
According to the operator, a renter flew the accident airplane from Georgetown Municipal Airport (GTU) to Boerne Stage Field Airport (5C1) on December 29, 2014. Radar data showed the flight departed GTU about 0859 mountain standard time and arrived at 5C1 about 0937. The airplane then departed 5C1 about 1310 and returned to GTU about 1345.
The operator reported that the owner subsequently flew the airplane on December 29 after this cross-country flight. The pilot indicated his intention to fly to Albuquerque. Prior to the accident flight, the operator serviced the airplane with one quart of oil, added additional quarts, and topped off the fuel tanks. Airplane dispatch paperwork showed the tachometer time was 5,925.87 hours.
Radar data indicated the airplane departed GTU about 2150 on December 29 and landed at 2F5 about 0019 on December 30. Fueling records from 2F5 showed 27.5 gallons of avgas pumped at 0018. The airplane then departed 2F5 about 0034, flew northwest for about 30 miles, and returned to 2F5 about 0110, where 6.8 gallons of avgas were pumped at 0125. The final departure from 2F5 was about 0140, flying northwest.
During the accident flight, radar data showed the airplane climbed to 10,500 feet mean sea level (msl), then descended from 9,000 feet about 0323. About 38 seconds later, the altitude was about 8,100 feet. The last radar return showed the airplane at 7,100 feet about 0324.
A friend of the passenger reported the flight did not arrive. A search ensued, and the airplane's emergency locator transmitter signal was detected south of Vaughn. The wreckage was found about 0200 on January 1, 2015, about one-half mile and 30 degrees from the last radar return.
Personnel Information
The non-instrument rated pilot, age 46, seated in the left seat, held a FAA private pilot certificate with airplane single-engine land and sea rating and a third-class medical certificate with no limitations. The pilot logged 905.9 total flight hours, 30.8 hours in simulated instrument conditions, 161.8 night hours, and 11.6 hours in the prior 30 and 90 days. His last flight review was on September 11, 2014.
Aircraft Information
N2558M, a 1977 Piper PA-28-181 (serial number 28-7890256), was a single-engine, low-wing, fixed tricycle landing gear airplane. It was powered by a 180-horsepower Lycoming O-360-A4M engine (serial L-34549-36A) driving a two-blade fixed-pitch McCauley propeller. The airplane could carry four occupants and was equipped for IFR flight. Fuel capacity was two 25-gallon tanks with 24 gallons usable each. The last 100-hour inspection was dated December 11, 2014, at 5,903.33 total hours.
Meteorological Information
An NTSB senior meteorologist reviewed weather data. A dissipating cold front was depicted along the route. Forecast IFR conditions existed over the route to east of the destination. A stationary front over western New Mexico, strong pressure gradient, scattered snow showers, and extensive IFR from Texas into eastern New Mexico and northward into Colorado were forecast. The freezing level was at the surface, and moderate turbulence was expected from the surface through 24,000 feet.
At 0335, weather at Clovis Municipal Airport (110 miles, 90 degrees from site) was: wind 020° at 22 knots gusting 27, visibility 7 miles, overcast ceiling 800 feet, temperature -6°C, dew point -8°C, altimeter 30.34 inches. At Moriarty Airport (47 miles, 312 degrees): wind 110° at 14 knots gusting 17, visibility 5 miles, light snow, overcast 500 feet, temperature -7°C, dew point -8°C, altimeter 30.21 inches. At Clines Corner (37 miles, 330 degrees) at 0321: wind 100° at 21 knots gusting 27, visibility 1/2 mile, light snow with freezing fog, vertical visibility 200 feet, temperature -9°C, dew point -11°C, altimeter 30.11 inches; snow began at 0311.
Satellite imagery showed extensive low stratiform clouds over New Mexico east of Albuquerque into western Texas, with estimated cloud tops above 10,000 feet. Pilot reports indicated turbulence, mountain wave, and airframe icing in clouds with tops near 9,000 feet. The NWS area forecast for Salt Lake region forecast broken clouds at 5,000 feet, tops to 10,000 feet, visibility 3-5 miles in light snow and mist. AIRMETs forecast IFR, mountain obscuration, and moderate turbulence below 18,000 feet. Moonset occurred at 0142. There was no record of the pilot contacting a flight service station for a weather briefing.
Wreckage and Impact Information
The airplane came to rest 7.5 miles and 198 degrees from the intersection of US 285 and US 54. It impacted rising terrain in a level attitude with a ground scar heading about 186 degrees magnetic. Seat rails were embedded in the scar. The right wing separated and was at the end of the scar. The fuselage and empennage remained attached, upright on an easterly heading about 280 feet from the start of the scar. The rudder and vertical stabilizer remained attached; the horizontal stabilizer separated. The left wing was inverted east of the fuselage.
Flight control cables were traced; all breaks were consistent with overload. No preimpact anomalies were found. The throttle and mixture levers were forward and separated from their cables; cables moved when pulled. The fuel selector was on the left tank. The tachometer indicated 2,600 rpm; hour meter showed 5,930.95 hours. The primer was in and locked; ignition switch was in the both position.
The engine and propeller separated and were found east of the fuselage. Propeller blades showed leading edge abrasion, torsional twisting, chordwise striations, and S-shaped bending. The carburetor and engine-driven fuel pump were disassembled; no anomalies were found. Fuel consistent with avgas was found in the pump. Spark plugs displayed normal wear. The vacuum pump drive was sheared; rotor assembly fractured. Both magnetos produced spark. Cylinder pushrods were damaged; all cylinders produced thumb compression. The exhaust heat muff was deformed without sooting.
Medical and Pathological Information
An autopsy performed by the Torrance County Office of the Medical Investigator indicated the pilot's cause of death was blunt trauma. The FAA Civil Aerospace Medical Institute prepared a toxicology report. The report detected amphetamine in an unidentified tablet found on the pilot, and tetrahydrocannabinol (marijuana) and its metabolite in liver, lung, and muscle tissues.