History of Flight
On January 13, 2019, at approximately 1425 central standard time, a Piper PA-28-181 airplane, registration N75191, sustained substantial damage when it impacted terrain about 6 miles south of Salem, South Dakota. The private pilot, who was the sole occupant, was fatally injured. The airplane was operated by the pilot as a personal flight under Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. Day visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the cross-country trip, which originated from Mitchell Municipal Airport (MHE), Mitchell, South Dakota, with a destination of Mary Skie-Lincoln County Airport (Y14), Tea, South Dakota.
About 15 minutes after departure, the pilot contacted Sioux Falls Approach Control and reported chest pains, blacking out, and difficulty maintaining control. Radar track data showed the airplane initially traveling southeast, then maneuvering and circling for about 6 minutes, briefly heading northwest, and circling again. The controller communicated with the pilot for approximately 20 minutes before radio contact was lost around 1425, coinciding with the end of track data about 2 miles southwest of the accident site. The wreckage was later located in a field about 30 nautical miles east-southeast of the departure airport.
Pilot Information
According to Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) records, the 69-year-old pilot held a private pilot certificate with airplane single-engine land and instrument ratings. His most recent third-class FAA medical certificate was issued on October 5, 2016, with a corrective lenses limitation and expired on October 31, 2018. On that application, he reported 2,250 total flight hours, with 50 hours in the previous 6 months.
Aircraft Information
The four-seat, single-engine, low-wing airplane, serial number 28-7690310, was manufactured in 1976. It was powered by a 180-horsepower Lycoming O-360 engine (serial number L-1039-36A) driving a two-blade fixed-pitch Sensenich propeller. Maintenance records showed no noted anomalies.
Meteorological Information
Weather recorded at Mitchell Municipal Airport at 1422 included wind from 200° at 13 knots, visibility 10 statute miles, overcast ceiling at 1,500 feet, temperature 1°C, dew point -3°C, and altimeter 30.30 inches of mercury.
Wreckage and Impact Information
The wreckage was found in a harvested crop field. All major components were present. The main wreckage rested upright, with the cockpit crushed and the empennage facing north. Ground scars and a debris field indicated initial ground contact about 600 to 800 feet north of the final resting position. The wreckage was recovered to a secure location. An examination by an FAA inspector and an airframe manufacturer representative revealed no preimpact anomalies that would have precluded normal operation.
Medical and Pathological Information
An autopsy conducted by the McCook County Coroner determined the pilot's cause of death as multiple blunt force injuries due to an airplane crash due to acute myocardial infarction due to atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. The autopsy identified significant coronary artery disease, including 80% stenosis of the left anterior descending coronary artery and 50% stenosis of the right coronary artery. Toxicology testing identified valsartan, ranitidine, and amlodipine—medications for hypertension, gastric acid, and blood pressure, respectively. The pilot's medical records indicated well-controlled hypertension and occasional respiratory infections. He had requested his primary physician to complete an FAA physician attestation form for BasicMed, attesting to his ability to safely operate an aircraft; however, the FAA had no record of receiving the BasicMed documents.