Accident Overview
On July 26, 2018, at approximately 2007 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-24-250, registration N6427P, was destroyed when it impacted the ground during the initial climb after takeoff from Palatka Municipal Airport (28J) in Palatka, Florida. The private pilot and a passenger were fatally injured. The airplane was owned by the pilot and was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the local flight.
Witness Account
A witness standing in his hangar about 200 yards from the end of runway 17 heard the accident airplane beginning its takeoff. He noticed that the airplane's brakes were engaged while the engine was at full throttle and believed the pilot was going to perform a short-field takeoff. As the airplane rolled down the runway, its nosewheel lifted off the ground then touched down again before the airplane became airborne. The witness thought the pilot rotated the airplane "early," as the airplane appeared slow. He added that the airplane kept climbing "steeper and steeper" and that the pilot did not lower the nose to gain airspeed. When the airplane was about 150 ft above ground level, it entered a stall and the left wing dropped; the airplane spiraled to the ground. The witness further stated that the engine was operating at full power during the entire flight.
Video Evidence
An airport security video at 28J showed the airplane immediately after takeoff as it climbed to about 150 ft; the airplane's left wing dropped and it spiraled to the ground, consistent with the witness' account.
Pilot Information
The pilot held a private pilot certificate with ratings for airplane single-engine land and instrument airplane. He was operating under the provisions of BasicMed; his most recent physical exam was completed on July 14, 2018. According to his logbook, he had a total of 704.4 hours of flight experience. The accident flight was the pilot's second solo flight in the airplane. He purchased the airplane 13 days before the accident; since purchase, he had logged 15.1 hours of flight instruction in the airplane. Logbook remarks indicated that during those flights, he had received instruction in normal and crosswind takeoffs and landings, approach and departure stalls, and simulated engine failures.
Aircraft Information
The four-seat, low-wing, tricycle gear airplane was manufactured in 1959. It was powered by a Lycoming O-540-A1C5, 250-horsepower engine equipped with a three-bladed McCauley propeller. The most recent annual inspection was completed on July 12, 2018. At the time of the accident, the airframe total time was 3,435.73 hours (13.73 hours since the annual inspection) and the engine had accrued 1,268 hours since major overhaul.
Meteorological Information
At 2015, the recorded weather at 28J included wind from 180° at 5 knots, 10 statute miles visibility, temperature 27°C, dew point 26°C, and an altimeter setting of 29.98 inches of mercury.
Wreckage and Impact
The wreckage was located about 60 ft to the left of and about halfway down the length of runway 17, which measured 3,510 ft long. The wreckage came to rest on a magnetic heading of 270°. The propeller was fractured from the engine and buried about 2 ft into the ground. The engine was displaced into the instrument panel and cockpit. The landing gear was extended, and the wing flaps were retracted. Both wings exhibited accordion-like crushing on the leading edges. Flight control cable continuity was established from the cockpit to all flight controls. The stabilator trim control was fragmented and the trim position could not be verified. Both pitch and trim servos rotated freely, and the clutch was not engaged. The fuselage was crushed, and the empennage was bent over top of the cabin. The vertical stabilizer, rudder, and elevator were not damaged.
Engine Examination
The engine was removed from the airframe for further examination. The top spark plugs were removed, and a lighted borescope was used to look inside the cylinders. All valves and pistons showed normal wear. Thumb compression was confirmed on all cylinders. Drive train continuity was established through the engine and accessory case by rotating the propeller flange and observing the movement of the gears. Both magnetos were removed and turned by hand. All leads sparked to ground.
Medical and Pathological Information
An autopsy performed on the pilot by the Office of the Medical Examiner, St. Augustine, Florida, listed the cause of death as multiple blunt force trauma. Toxicology testing performed at the FAA Forensic Sciences Laboratory was negative for drugs and alcohol.