History of Flight
On May 14, 2015, at 1032 mountain daylight time, a Bellanca 7GCBC, registration N5042P, impacted wires while maneuvering near Juntura, Oregon. The airplane was conducting an aerial observation flight to drive cattle under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. No flight plan was filed. The flight had departed from a private airport in Juntura.
A witness reported hearing the airplane fly overhead three to four times. On the final pass, she watched as the airplane flew straight and level into wires. The airplane nosed over, impacted the ground, and came to rest inverted approximately 200 yards from her house. She described the engine sound as normal.
Law enforcement personnel found downed power lines entwined in the wreckage and reported a strong fuel smell in the cockpit. According to the responding sergeant, the pilot initially survived the accident. Witnesses and local law enforcement stated that the pilot was a local farmer and resident who routinely used his airplane for cattle drives and was familiar with the area.
Personnel Information
The 51-year-old pilot held a private pilot certificate with a rating for airplane single-engine land. His most recent FAA third-class medical certificate was issued on January 21, 2013, with the limitation that he must wear glasses for near/intermediate vision. On his medical application, he reported 120 total hours of flight experience, with 30 hours in the previous six months. The medical certificate expired for all classes in January 2015.
Aircraft Information
The high-wing, single-engine airplane was manufactured in 1979 and powered by a Textron Lycoming O-320-A2B, 150-horsepower reciprocating engine. The airplane's maintenance records were not located, so its maintenance history could not be determined.
Meteorological Information
The 0953 automated weather observation at Burns Municipal Airport, about 39 miles southwest of the accident site, reported wind from 257 degrees at 7 knots, visibility 10 statute miles, a broken cloud ceiling at 9,000 feet, temperature 12°C, dew point 2°C, and an altimeter setting of 29.82 inches of mercury.
Wreckage and Impact Information
The accident site was in Juntura Valley, a relatively flat area covered with scrub brush and rocks. The first identified point of contact was a set of power lines approximately 700 feet southwest of the main wreckage. The airplane struck the top three power lines; the power poles were about 100 feet tall. The first identified ground impact was about 10 feet from the main wreckage.
The entire airplane came to rest inverted. Portions of the two lower power lines were wrapped around the airplane. Both wings and empennage remained attached to the fuselage. The left wing struck a small tree, rupturing the fuel tank. The right wing fuel tank was not compromised and contained about 3.5 gallons of fuel.
Flight control continuity was established from the tail section to the cockpit and from both wings to the cockpit. The engine remained attached to its mounts and firewall. The propeller assembly separated from the propeller flange. The fuel line from the gascolator to the carburetor had separated at the gascolator fitting; when the carburetor was elevated, fuel flowed out. The carburetor sustained impact damage, and the butterfly valve separated from the top portion of the carburetor but remained attached to the throttle cable. The top four spark plugs were removed and, according to Champion Aviation Check-A-Plug chart AV-27, their signatures were consistent with normal operation. Manual rotation of the crankshaft flange produced thumb compression at each cylinder in firing order, establishing mechanical and valve train continuity. Due to damaged P-lead wires, the magnetos were removed and manually rotated; both produced spark at each post.
Medical and Pathological Information
An autopsy by the Office of the State of Oregon Medical Examiner listed the cause of death as multiple blunt force injuries. Toxicology testing performed by the FAA Bioaeronautical Sciences Research Laboratory on specimens from the pilot was negative for carbon monoxide, cyanide, volatiles, and tested drugs.