History of Flight
On June 15, 2018, at 1538 central daylight time, a Cessna 172N airplane, registration N734BS, was destroyed when it impacted power lines and terrain near Rotan, Texas. The pilot and passenger were fatally injured. The airplane was operated by Aero Photo as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 aerial photography flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. The flight originated from Midland Airpark (MDD), Midland, Texas, about 1331 and was destined for Spicewood Airport (88R), Spicewood, Texas.
According to information from the operator and data from a Garmin Aera 560 portable GPS device recovered at the accident site, the airplane departed 88R about 1020 to perform aerial photography missions. After completing several missions, it landed at MDD about 1250. The airplane remained at the airport for about 40 minutes and departed about 1331. It flew circling maneuvers near Midland, Odessa, and Lubbock, Texas, consistent with photography missions. After the circling near Lubbock, the airplane traveled southeast on a straight path toward 88R but impacted non-electrified power lines crossing a canyon and subsequently hit terrain.
The final recorded data point, at 1537, was about 3.3 nautical miles northwest of the accident site, showing an altitude of 2,206 ft mean sea level (msl). According to Google Earth, the terrain elevation at that location was about 2,008 ft msl.
Personnel Information
The 38-year-old pilot held a commercial pilot certificate with airplane single-engine land, multiengine land, and instrument ratings. He also held a second-class medical certificate dated April 18, 2018, without limitations. He reported 5,578 hours of total flight experience. His flight logbook was not recovered, but a company pilot information form dated May 7, 2018, indicated 5,523.6 total hours, including 2.5 hours in multiengine airplanes, 5,026.9 hours in Cessna 172 airplanes, 902.4 hours in the preceding 12 months, and 242.3 hours in the preceding 90 days. His most recent flight review was on February 27, 2018.
Aircraft Information
The airplane, serial number 17268731, was manufactured in 1977 and powered by a Lycoming O-320-D2J engine (serial number RL-18668-39) rated at 160 horsepower. It had fixed landing gear and accommodated four occupants. Maintenance records showed the most recent annual inspection was completed on August 31, 2017, with a tachometer reading of 7,636 hours. The entries did not indicate if the tachometer correlated to total time in service or actual engine hours since overhaul.
Meteorological Information
At 1535, recorded weather at Avenger Field Airport, Sweetwater, Texas, about 30 nautical miles south of the accident site, was wind from 140° at 12 knots gusting to 23 knots, 10 statute miles visibility, scattered clouds at 7,000 ft above ground, temperature 34°C, dew point 13°C, and altimeter setting 29.91 inches of mercury.
Wreckage and Impact Information
The power lines were suspended from wooden poles about 20 ft tall on canyon ridges, estimated at about 130 ft above the canyon floor. The airplane came to rest inverted about 900 ft from the power lines, and the accident site was about 50° from where the lines crossed the canyon center. The power lines were not marked.
The aft fuselage was broken near the baggage compartment, and the entire aft fuselage and tail were bent over the inverted fuselage. Both wings appeared intact and still attached. Ailerons, flaps, and tail surfaces remained attached. The engine separated with the propeller still attached; a large portion of power line cable had wrapped around the crankshaft an estimated 15 times aft of the propeller. Access to the site was limited, and the wreckage position prevented a detailed on-scene examination. Subsequent examination revealed no anomalies that would have precluded normal operation.
Medical and Pathological Information
According to autopsy, the pilot's cause of death was blunt injuries of the head and torso. Toxicology testing by the FAA Forensic Sciences Laboratory identified delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and its metabolites, as well as cocaine and its metabolites, in the pilot's specimens. THC was found at 0.006 µg/ml in cavity blood, along with inactive metabolites. Cocaine was detected in urine but not in cavity blood; its inactive metabolites were found in both urine and cavity blood.
Tests and Research
A GoPro Hero 4 camera was recovered and sent to the NTSB Vehicle Recorder Laboratory. It contained 181 files (177 still images and 4 videos). Seven still images had timestamps consistent with the accident flight, all taken from the front right seat. Several showed the airplane operating at low altitudes near geographical features like canyons and plateaus. The final image, timestamped 1540:50, was pointed ahead through the front windscreen. The airplane was in a moderate left bank about level with small canyon tops. In the distance on a small canyon to the right, a wooden pole structure was visible, with power lines suspended in front of the flight path. On the left, the lines were visible at a similar altitude.
Additionally, an Instagram user provided screen-captured videos reportedly made by the passenger. One video titled "Just Checking the Livestock" was taken from the right window, panning forward; the airplane's estimated altitude was 30 ft above ground. The final video, also from the right window, showed high ground speed and altitude estimated less than 100 ft above ground, with geography consisting of small hills and rock formations.