Accident
On March 6, 2018, at about 1005 eastern standard time, a Piper PA-28-140, registration N6764W, was substantially damaged when it struck the ground during an approach to Massey Ranch Airpark (X50) in Edgewater, Florida. The aircraft was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 instructional flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the local flight. The flight instructor and student pilot both suffered serious injuries.
Witness Statement
According to a witness, who was also a pilot, the airplane was on the final approach leg of the airport traffic pattern at low altitudes while performing pattern work. The aircraft descended below the treeline, and the witness perceived that the engine power increased before the airplane cleared the treeline and continued the final approach. The witness subsequently left the airport and did not observe the accident sequence.
Post-Accident Examination
Both the pilot and passenger reported to a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector that, due to their injuries, they had no recollection of the events leading up to the accident.
Examination by the FAA inspector revealed that the airplane impacted the ground in a nose-down attitude approximately 750 feet before the threshold of runway 18. The top of a tree was separated and found beneath the wreckage, and several small branches displayed 45° cuts. The inboard section of the left wing was crushed aft, the left wing tip was crushed, and the outboard section of the right wing was crushed aft. The empennage was buckled, while the horizontal stabilator and rudder remained undamaged. A total of 25 gallons of aviation fuel was present in the wing fuel tanks during recovery.
An examination of the engine by an NTSB investigator showed that it remained attached to the engine mounts. Thumb compression was obtained on all cylinders, and crankshaft and valve train continuity were confirmed through the engine and accessories by rotating the propeller through 360°. Both magnetos produced spark on all ignition towers during hand rotation. The propeller remained attached, and chordwise scratching was noted on the blades. The oil suction screen was free of debris, and about 4.5 quarts of oil were present. The carburetor inlet screen and main fuel strainer were also clear of debris.
A review of the airframe confirmed flight control continuity from the controls to the respective surfaces. The fuel selector was tested with low-pressure air and showed no anomalies. Investigators found no preexisting anomalies that would have precluded normal operation before the accident.