History of Flight
On December 29, 2018, about 1020 eastern standard time, a Cessna R172K, N1095V, impacted the ground and then the side of a building in a park about 1 mile south of Howard Nixon Memorial Airport (50G), Chesaning, Michigan. The commercial pilot was fatally injured, and the airplane was destroyed. The flight was a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed. The local flight originated at Oswosso Community Airport (RNP), Owosso, Michigan, about 1010.
Due to the government furlough, neither the National Transportation Safety Board nor the Federal Aviation Administration responded to the accident site.
According to excerpts from the Saginaw County Sheriff's Office report, the pilot's wife stated that he left home about 0930 to go flying and would be back about 1130.
The sheriff's office report indicated that there were three witnesses. One witness reported that the pilot was making touch-and-go landings at 50G. The witness also reported hearing the engine "cut out" and observing the airplane go "straight down." Another witness stated that she saw a low-flying airplane approaching from the south, which turned and continued descending, and was "not level" when it struck the ground. The last witness reported seeing the airplane flying east over the park before making a sharp turn to the south, with wings "go vertical" before striking the north side of a building.
Personnel Information
The pilot, age 83, held a commercial pilot certificate with airplane single-engine land, multiengine land, and instrument ratings and a flight instructor certificate with airplane single-engine and multiengine ratings. He also held a third-class medical certificate dated January 24, 2018. According to his last medical application, the pilot had accumulated about 13,500 hours of total flight experience, with 30 hours in the previous 6 months. His wife reported 13,476 hours total and 12 hours in single-engine airplanes, with 3 hours in the last 30 days, of which 1 hour was in the make and model.
Meteorological Information
At 1035, the automated weather observing system at RNP, 11 miles south of the accident site, reported wind from 330° at 5 knots, visibility 10 miles, ceiling 2,500 ft overcast, temperature -3°C, dew point -7°C, and altimeter setting 30.29 inches of mercury.
Wreckage and Impact Information
Photographs from the Saginaw County Sheriff's Office revealed a severed left wingtip on the ground followed by skid marks leading to the main impact point. The propeller was found separated. From the main impact point, the airplane twisted 90° left and skidded 20 to 30 ft further, striking a building. Both wings were crushed and bent aft against the fuselage, with the right wing between the fuselage and the building. The cockpit and cabin were crushed. The vertical stabilizer was displaced to the right; both horizontal stabilizers were damaged.
The wreckage was moved to Myers Aviation, Oshkosh, Wisconsin, and examined by Textron Aviation and Continental Motors under FAA oversight. According to Textron Aviation, the aileron interconnect cable and left aileron direct cable exhibited tension overload signatures. Propeller blade No. 1 was straight with chordwise scratches and twisting; blade No. 2 was bent aft 90° about 8 inches from the tip with leading-edge gouges and chordwise scratches. Flight control continuity was confirmed.
According to Continental Motors, the fuel tank finger screens were clear of debris. The fuel selector handle position placard could be rotated about the shaft. The left fuel cap was not vented; the right cap was vented. The engine could only be partially rotated due to impact damage. The oil screen was clear of debris. The left magneto produced intermittent spark on some leads when rotated; the right magneto impulse couple functioned manually. Inspection revealed no preimpact anomalies that would have precluded normal operation.
Medical and Pathological Information
An autopsy performed by the Saginaw County Medical Examiner's Office determined the pilot's cause of death as multiple blunt force injuries. Toxicology testing at the FAA Forensic Sciences Laboratory identified dextromethorphan and its metabolite dextrorphan, phenobarbital (6.308 µg/mL), and phenytoin (2.246 µg/mL) in blood specimens. No carbon monoxide or ethanol was detected.
Dextromethorphan is a cough suppressant; at recommended doses, it is not considered impairing. Phenobarbital is a long-acting central nervous system depressant used as a sedative or anticonvulsant; it carries a precaution about impairing hazardous tasks. Common stable-dose blood levels are between 10 and 20 µg/mL. Phenytoin is an anticonvulsant; at higher levels it can cause neurologic symptoms. Common stable-dose blood levels are between 10 and 20 µg/mL.