Accident Overview
On January 12, 2016, about 1954 central standard time, a Cessna 172N, registration N737EZ, was substantially damaged when it impacted wooded terrain following a loss of engine power approximately 0.5 nautical mile south/southwest of Fox Stephens Field-Gilmer Municipal Airport (JXI), Gilmer, Texas. The private pilot was fatally injured, and the passenger sustained serious injuries. The airplane was privately owned and operated by the pilot under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. No flight plan was filed, and the flight was not receiving air traffic control services. Night visual meteorological conditions (VMC) prevailed for the flight, which departed from Sulphur Springs Municipal Airport (SLR) about 1916 and was returning to JXI.
Pilot Information
The pilot, age 73, held a private pilot certificate with a rating for airplane single-engine land and an FAA third-class medical certificate issued on July 7, 2014, with no limitations. According to the pilot's logbook, he had accumulated 259.15 total hours of flight experience, with 202.55 hours in the accident airplane. Total night flight experience was 13.5 hours, with the two most recent night flights being 1.6 hours in February 2014 and 0.8 hours in December 2015. The most recent flight review was completed on September 22, 2015, in the accident airplane.
Aircraft Information
The airplane, serial number 17269373, was registered to the pilot in July 2008. It was equipped with a Lycoming O-320-H2AD reciprocating engine, serial number L-3869-76. The most recent annual inspection was completed on December 9, 2015, about 3 flight hours before the accident. The airplane had standard capacity fuel tanks holding 21.5 gallons each, providing a total capacity of 43 gallons and 40 gallons of usable fuel.
Flight History
The passenger, the pilot's wife, stated that the pilot filled both wing fuel tanks a couple of days before the flight to SLR using three 5-gallon gas cans and one 6-gallon can. The investigation could not determine the total fuel onboard after refueling. The passenger obtained the fuel from an airport in Gladewater, Texas, 1 to 1.5 weeks before the accident. The flight from JXI to SLR lasted 33–34 minutes with no stops. The return flight was 29–32 minutes with no stops. Cruise altitude for both legs was 3,500–3,700 ft. The passenger noted no difference in engine sound and no indication of a problem before the engine lost power.
The pilot's brother, who had dinner with the pilot and his wife near SLR, did not see the airplane depart. He observed the pilot warming up the airplane and checking the wings, but did not see the pilot shake the wings. The airplane was reported overdue by a family member and located by law enforcement on January 13, 2016, about 0105.
Meteorological and Environmental Conditions
The 1955 automated weather observation at JXI reported calm wind, clear skies, 10 statute miles visibility, temperature 6°C, dew point 2°C, and an altimeter setting of 30.24 inches of mercury. Sunset occurred at 1734, with end of civil twilight at 1800. Moonset was at 2039, and the moon was a waxing crescent with 9% illumination.
Wreckage and Impact Information
The airplane came to rest on a heading of about 040° in a wooded area. The wreckage path measured about 197 ft in length oriented on an approximate 050° heading. The airplane rested on its left side, atop the left wing, which was folded over along the fuselage. Wings, flight control surfaces, and stabilizers remained attached. The wing flap cockpit control and flap actuator were in the 20° positions. Flight control continuity was confirmed.
No fuel smell or leakage was present. Both wing fuel tank caps and the auxiliary fuel tank cap were intact and secure. No usable fuel was found in the wing tanks. About 8 oz of blue-colored liquid consistent with 100LL aviation fuel was drained from the auxiliary fuel tank, and about 1 oz from the airframe fuel strainer. The fuel strainer was free of debris. The carburetor bowl contained about 2 oz of a liquid consistent with oil and fuel mixture. Water testing showed no indication of water.
The propeller was attached; neither blade exhibited S-shaped bending or chordwise scratching. The cockpit master/alternator switch was off, and the magneto key switch was in the both position. Throttle and mixture control continuity was confirmed. Engine examination confirmed suction and expulsion of air through spark plug holes when rotated by hand. Continuity to the accessory section and valve train was confirmed. Both magnetos produced spark.
Additional Information
The Adventure Pilot iFly multifunction display was recovered and its data downloaded. Two log files corresponded to the accident date: the accident flight (19:16:21 to 19:53:53) and a previous flight (16:42:46 to 17:26:59). During the last minute of flight, speed decreased from 79 knots to 29 knots, and GPS altitude decreased from 832 ft to 425 ft. The flight track was consistent with a left downwind and left base leg for runway 36 at JXI, with the turn to base beginning about 55 degrees past abeam the approach end.
Medical and Pathological Information
The Dallas County Medical Examiner's Office conducted an autopsy on January 14, 2016, stating the pilot died due to blunt force injuries, manner of death accident. FAA toxicology testing was negative for carbon monoxide and ethanol. Losartan and pravastatin were detected, neither noted to adversely affect pilot performance.