History of Flight
On December 31, 2016, about 1745 central standard time, a Piper PA-28R-200 airplane, registration N2806R, impacted trees and terrain near Vienna, Illinois. The commercial pilot and three passengers were fatally injured, and the airplane was destroyed. The flight was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. It originated from Pella Municipal Airport (PEA) near Pella, Iowa, at an unknown time, destined for Nashville, Tennessee. Night marginal visual meteorological conditions were reported near the accident site, and no flight plan was filed.
A witness at PEA reported that between 1100 and 1200, the pilot entered the shop hangar and asked for an air tank to fill a low tire. The pilot appeared relaxed and in a good mood. The weather at PEA was clear and windy. After 1200, the witness heard the pilot make a taxi call on the common traffic advisory frequency.
About 1740, a witness near the accident site observed the airplane flying very low on a dark night. The engine did not sound right, with rpm fluctuating up and down. The witness subsequently heard a loud crash. No fire was observed in flight or after impact. The witness called 9-1-1; search personnel located the wreckage in a wooded area by following the smell of fuel.
Pilot Information
The 34-year-old pilot held an FAA commercial pilot certificate with single-engine land rating, issued June 30, 2016. He did not hold an instrument rating. He held a third-class medical certificate dated May 12, 2016, with no limitations. The pilot's logbook showed his last entry on July 24/26, 2016, with total flight time of 312.9 hours, including 18.9 hours of night flying and 13.7 hours of simulated instrument time. He had no actual instrument flight time.
Aircraft Information
N2806R was a 1969 model Piper PA-28R-200 Arrow, serial No. 28R-35293, a four-seat, low-wing, single-engine airplane with retractable landing gear. It was powered by a 200-horsepower Lycoming IO-360-C1C engine and a two-bladed Hartzell constant-speed propeller. An annual inspection was completed June 6, 2016, at 6,297.3 airframe hours; altimeter/static/transponder inspections were performed June 22, 2016, at 6,302.2 hours.
Meteorological Information
The NTSB senior meteorologist produced a weather report. The pilot did not obtain a weather briefing from official sources or via his ForeFlight account, though he entered several routes during the flight. Surface analysis at 1800 showed a cold front near the accident site. The nearest reporting station, Metropolis Municipal Airport (M30), recorded at 1735: wind calm, visibility 10 miles, overcast at 500 ft, temperature/dew point 6°C/6°C. At 1753, Barkley Regional Airport reported wind 220° at 4 knots, 10 miles visibility, overcast at 700 ft. Instrument flight rules (IFR) ceilings (below 1,000 ft) were present before and during the accident time. AIRMETs for low-level wind shear and IFR conditions were valid. Sunset was at 1648, civil twilight ended at 1717, with a waxing crescent Moon at 6% illumination.
Wreckage and Impact Information
The wreckage came to rest about 0.46 miles from Crossroads Road and Old Metropolis Road. A debris path included broken branches, the upper rudder, a ground scar, and the engine. The propeller hub remained attached; one blade exhibited S-shaped bending. No fire was present. The stabilator trim was found in a full nose-up position. The fuel selector was in the OFF position. The landing gear selector was DOWN. The flap positions were retracted. Control continuity was established except for overload separations. The right fuel tank was breeched. The pilot's lap and shoulder harness were functional; rear seats had no shoulder harnesses. The attitude indicator and horizontal situation indicator gyros showed witness marks of rotating contact.
Additional Information
No record of communication with air traffic control was found. The pilot's autopsy indicated blunt impact trauma. Toxicology tests were negative. A recovered cell phone (Samsung S7 Edge) yielded five photos with timestamps and GPS data; one photo showed the airplane on the ground at Pella at 1141, and four inflight photos taken between 1619 and 1628 showed the airplane above a cloud layer, consistent with the rear left seat perspective.
Probable Cause
The accident investigation report did not state a probable cause.