History of Flight
On June 24, 2017, at about 0748 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA28-181, registration N199PA, impacted a building and terrain during a forced landing shortly after takeoff from Page Field Airport (FMY), Fort Myers, Florida. The private pilot sustained serious injuries and the pilot-rated passenger was fatally injured. The airplane was destroyed by a postimpact fire. The aircraft was operated by the Fort Myers Flying Club under Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and an instrument flight rules flight plan was filed for the personal flight to Marion County Airport, Dunnellon, Florida.
The pilot reported a normal preflight inspection with no anomalies. He sampled fuel from both tanks twice, finding no water or debris. Engine start and run-up were normal, with all instruments in the normal range. During takeoff roll, engine power output was verified at 2,450 rpm. The airplane lifted off at 65 knots, and the pilot pitched to 5° nose up aiming for 80 knots. At 75 knots, he felt a loss of engine power and indicated rpm decreased. He switched fuel tanks and applied carburetor heat, but power continued to drop. He decided to force-land on a nearby road. While turning right to align with the road, the wing contacted a tree, and the airplane struck the side of a building before hitting the ground.
A flying club member reported experiencing a partial loss of engine power in the same airplane about one month earlier during initial climb after takeoff at about 100 ft above ground level. He reduced power and landed straight ahead on the remaining runway. Maintenance personnel then flushed both fuel tanks, installed new fuel cap seals, drained the carburetor bowl, cleaned and inspected the fuel filter, and flushed fuel lines. A test run found no anomalies. About one week later, another pilot experienced a total loss of engine power in cruise flight at 8,000 ft. While maneuvering to land at a local airport, the engine regained power at 3,000 ft. The pilot made a precautionary landing and had the aircraft inspected. Maintenance took fuel samples that were blue and clear of debris; the intake tube was unobstructed, and ground test runs were satisfactory.
Personnel Information
According to FAA records, the pilot held a private pilot certificate with ratings for airplane single-engine land and instrument airplane, and a third-class medical certificate issued January 5, 2017. At the medical examination, he reported 523 total flight hours. At the time of the accident, he reported 535 total hours, with 155 hours in the accident airplane make and model. He had flown 13 hours in the 90 days and 2.7 hours in the 30 days preceding the accident.
Aircraft Information
The four-seat, low-wing airplane was manufactured in 1999 and powered by a Lycoming O-360-A4M, 180-horsepower engine with a two-blade Sensenich propeller. According to the logbook, the last annual inspection was on June 20, 2017, at which time the airframe and engine had accumulated 1,847.1 total hours.
Meteorological Information
At 0753, weather at FMY included wind from 100° at 4 knots, visibility 10 statute miles, and a clear sky.
Wreckage and Impact Information
The airplane came to rest against a building across the street from the airport. All major components were accounted for. The engine compartment, cockpit, cabin, empennage, and most of both wings were consumed by postcrash fire. Flight control cable continuity was confirmed from cockpit to surfaces. The two-blade propeller fractured off the engine and was found in the building's ceiling; one blade showed "S" bending, the other was fractured into pieces. Starter ring gear, support, cowling, and windshield pieces were inside the building.
The engine was moved to a hangar for examination. Rear-mounted accessories were fire damaged. The engine could not be rotated by hand initially due to impact damage to the No. 2 cylinder. After cylinder removal, the crankshaft rotated by hand, and continuity to rear accessory gears and camshaft was confirmed. Continuity to the valvetrain was visually confirmed. Cylinder interiors showed no anomalies. The magnetos and carburetor were fire damaged and could not be inspected.
Medical and Pathological Information
An autopsy on the pilot-rated passenger by the Office of the Medical Examiner, Fort Myers, Florida, listed the cause of death as blunt force trauma. Forensic toxicology performed by the FAA Bioaeronautical Sciences Research Laboratory was negative for drugs and carbon monoxide.