History of Flight
On August 7, 2016, about 1219 central daylight time, a Piper PA-46-310P airplane, N465JM, was destroyed when it impacted terrain after an in-flight breakup near Williamson, Iowa. The private pilot sustained fatal injuries. The airplane was owned by Wolf Aviation LLC and operated by the pilot under 14 CFR Part 91. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. The flight originated from Johnson County Executive Airport (OJC), Olathe, Kansas, about 1130, with a destination of Ankeny Regional Airport (IKV), Ankeny, Iowa.
According to radar data and ATC communications, the pilot was receiving VFR flight following from Chicago ARTCC at 13,500 ft msl. The pilot had deviated around convective weather earlier and was proceeding direct to IKV. The controller issued a weather advisory about moderate to extreme precipitation along the route, and the pilot responded that he had weather information on the airplane's NEXRAD system. About 3 minutes later, the pilot reported he was around the weather and requested a descent direct to IKV. The controller replied the descent altitude was at the pilot's discretion and instructed the pilot to contact Des Moines Tower. No further response was received. Radar showed a descending right turn before contact was lost at about 2,900 ft msl.
An ALNOT was issued, and the wreckage was located by ground and Civil Air Patrol personnel about 5 hours later. No eyewitnesses were reported. Search personnel reported rain and thunderstorms in the area at the time.
Personnel Information
The pilot held a private pilot certificate with single-engine land rating. His most recent medical certificate (third class combined with student pilot) was issued December 7, 2014. Logbook entries from December 4, 2014 to December 6, 2015 indicated he received his private pilot certificate on June 20, 2015, and logged 242.6 total hours as of December 6, 2015. He began logging time in the accident airplane on July 18, 2015, accumulating 111.6 hours by December 6, 2015. He logged 23.8 hours of actual instrument and 1.6 hours of simulated instrument experience, but did not hold an instrument rating.
Aircraft Information
The non-pressurized airplane was manufactured in 1984 and acquired by the pilot in July 2015. Maintenance logbooks were not available. The airplane was equipped with a NEXRAD on-board weather display. It is unknown if the pilot was proficient in using the NEXRAD system.
Meteorological Information
At 1215, Chariton Municipal Airport (CNC), about 12 miles west-southwest of the accident, reported wind from 220° at 9 knots gusting to 17 knots, visibility 1 1/4 miles in light rain, temperature 24°C, dew point 23°C, altimeter 29.96 inHg. Based on the pilot's discussions with ATC, he was aware of and trying to avoid convective weather. The airplane most likely encountered IMC during the last minutes of flight.
Wreckage and Impact Information
The airplane impacted a mature corn field, with wing and empennage components scattered along a path about 1/4-mile long. The main wreckage (cabin and fuselage) came to rest against trees adjacent to the field. The distribution was consistent with an in-flight breakup. The fuselage rested on a 300° heading, crushed with numerous skin separations. The left wing was separated at the root about 225 ft east of the fuselage; no major leading-edge damage. The fuel cap was in place and fuel present. The right wing had a 2-ft section found about 816 ft away; outboard 10 ft of right wing separated and not located. The vertical stabilizer was found about 810 ft northeast of the fuselage, with leading-edge damage and top section canted left. The rudder was found about 649 ft east-northeast, with upward deformation and paint transfer. Horizontal stabilizers separated and not located. The elevator was found about 201 ft southeast. No pre-impact anomalies were found with the airframe.
The engine came to rest on its left side; cylinders 1, 3, and 5 were visible and intact. Impact damage was noted, but no pre-impact anomalies were found during teardown. A single composite propeller blade protruding from an impact crater did not exhibit chordwise scratching or gouging; the trailing edge had delamination. Three small trees near the main wreckage were cut at an approximately 45° angle, consistent with the propeller rotating at impact.
Medical and Pathological Information
An autopsy was performed by the Iowa Office of the State Medical Examiner; the cause of death was blunt trauma. Toxicology testing by the FAA Bioaeronautical Sciences Research Laboratory detected no drugs, ethanol, or carbon monoxide.
Additional Information
The source included general discussion on spatial disorientation from FAA publications, but these are not stated as contributing factors in the accident.
Tests and Research
An Appareo Stratus GPS device was recovered but did not record data from the accident date.