Introduction
On October 6, 2018, about 1215 eastern daylight time, a Piper J3C-65, registration N38811, was substantially damaged when it struck terrain near Fancy Gap, Virginia. The private pilot received fatal injuries. Instrument meteorological conditions were present at the time of the accident. No flight plan was filed for the cross-country personal flight operating under 14 CFR Part 91. The flight originated from Fayette Airport (WV59), Fayetteville, West Virginia, around 1100, with a destination of Twin Lakes Airport (8A7), Mocksville, North Carolina.
Flight History
Data from the pilot's personal electronic device showed that after power-on and launch of the ForeFlight application, a flight plan was entered indicating departure from WV59 to Booneville Airport (26NC), Booneville, North Carolina, approximately 22 nautical miles from the intended destination. The planned altitude was 2,100 ft. The map screen displayed a terrain cross-section, a "first strike" distance of 1 statute mile, and the highest point along the route at 3,800 ft mean sea level. ForeFlight defined "first strike" as the distance from origin or current position to the first impact with terrain or an obstacle based on planned altitude.
According to a family member, the pilot left for the airport about 0900 and likely departed about 1100. When the pilot did not return or make contact, the family member reported him overdue, and an alert notice was issued about 2220. The wreckage was located the next morning about 36 miles northwest of the destination in mountainous terrain.
A witness near the accident site reported very foggy weather. A text message from a friend at 1119 stated: "Low overcast here. Watch out for hard things. Call me wherever you land."
Pilot and Aircraft Information
The pilot held a private pilot certificate with single-engine land rating but no instrument rating. A third-class medical certificate was issued on July 26, 2012. The pilot's logbook was not located.
The airplane was manufactured in 1941 and registered to the pilot in 2017. It was powered by a Continental Motors Inc. C85-12F, 85-horsepower engine with a fixed-pitch propeller. The most recent annual inspection was completed on May 10, 2018, at which time the engine had 76.5 hours since major overhaul. The aircraft was not equipped for flight in instrument meteorological conditions.
Meteorological Information
Weather observations from Raleigh County Memorial Airport (BKW), 14 miles south of departure, at 1051 recorded calm wind, 10 miles visibility, clear skies, temperature 24°C, dew point 19°C, and altimeter 30.25 inches of mercury.
At Twin County Airport (HLX), about 9 miles northwest of the accident location at elevation 2,693 ft, the 1135 observation reported wind from 220° at 7 knots, visibility 10 miles, broken clouds at 1,200 ft and 1,700 ft above ground level, overcast at 9,000 ft, temperature 23°C, dew point 21°C, and altimeter 30.28 inches.
At Mount Airy/Surry County Airport (MWK), about 13 miles south-southeast of the accident site, reports between 1130 and 1230 indicated unlimited visibility at the surface and overcast clouds from 800 to 1,200 ft above ground level (2,050 to 2,450 ft msl).
At 1045, the National Weather Service Aviation Weather Center issued and updated AIRMET Sierra for mountain obscuration and instrument flight rules conditions affecting the accident area, advising ceilings below 1,000 ft, visibility below 3 statute miles, precipitation, and mist. Satellite data showed cloudy conditions at the accident site and along the route.
It was not confirmed whether the pilot received an official weather briefing, but the ForeFlight application could have provided unofficial weather data when an internet connection was available.
Wreckage and Impact Information
The accident site was at elevation 2,766 ft, about 150 ft below a nearby summit. The ground track was 172° along the route between departure and destination. Several trees showed impact scars before the final resting position, about 50 ft from the initial tree scar. All major components were present. The debris path was oriented on a 320° heading.
The airplane came to rest nose-down. The fuselage was impact-damaged, with torn skin and a crushed cabin. The header tank was breached, and fuel odor was present. Sections of both wings were separated; fuel tanks were breached, with an undetermined amount of fuel in the left tank. The empennage remained attached, with torn skin. Control surfaces were attached, and control cable continuity was confirmed through breaks consistent with overload or tool cuts.
The propeller remained attached to the flange and engine. One blade was bent aft about 20°, the other exhibited tip curling. Chordwise scratching and leading-edge paint rub were noted. Cut tree branches (2 to 10 inches in diameter) displayed 45° cuts and black paint transfer matching the propeller.
The engine was impact-separated from the fuselage, attached only by the throttle cable. The cowling was partially separated; the oil sump was damaged. All four cylinders remained attached. The propeller rotated smoothly through 45° then stopped due to crankcase contact. Wood was found in the No. 3 cylinder fins. The carburetor was disassembled; no anomalies were noted. No pre-impact engine or airframe anomalies were discovered.
Medical and Pathological Information
An autopsy by the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, Roanoke, Virginia, determined the cause of death as multiple blunt force injuries.
Toxicology testing identified several drugs in the pilot's specimens. Bupropion and its metabolite were present in cavity blood and liver. Cetirizine was identified in cardiac blood (0.185 µg/ml) and liver; sedating effects are typically associated with levels between 0.190 and 1.450 µg/ml. Oxazepam was found in cardiac blood (0.028 µg/ml) and liver; psychoactive effects usually occur at 0.050 to 0.200 µg/ml. Sertraline, its metabolite, and famotidine were detected and are generally not considered impairing. Zolpidem was present in cavity blood (0.028 µg/ml) and liver; sedating levels are typically 0.025 to 0.300 µg/ml. No carbon monoxide or ethanol was detected.