Flight History
On December 21, 2019, at 1514 central standard time, a Piper PA-28-140 airplane, registration N601FL, was destroyed in an accident near Evansville, Indiana. The pilot sustained fatal injuries. The flight was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight.
According to air traffic control and radar data, the pilot departed Evansville Regional Airport (EVV) and requested visual flight rules flight following to Crawford County Airport (RSV) in Robinson, Illinois, about 60 nautical miles away. At approximately 1449, when the aircraft was about 18 nautical miles from RSV, the pilot was issued a frequency change. He then requested to return to EVV and was instructed to resume his own navigation. The airplane turned 180 degrees and began flying south. The pilot continued toward EVV and was cleared to land on runway 18. No difficulties with the airplane were reported, and the pilot did not indicate why he was returning. Witnesses observed the airplane enter a descending right turn to the west and impact a field about 2 miles north of the approach end of runway 18.
Wreckage Examination
The airplane impacted terrain in a right bank of about 90 degrees, as determined by the green beacon lens at the initial impact point and the location of impact marks from the main landing gear and fuselage. The left aileron and balance cables remained attached to the bellcrank arms and were continuous to the fuselage. The right aileron and balance cables remained attached to the bellcrank arms and were continuous to the wing root. Flight control cable continuity for the stabilator and rudder was confirmed from the cockpit to the attach points at the empennage. The left and right wing fuel tanks were breached, and no fuel was observed in either tank. The smell of aviation fuel was present at the accident site. No anomalies were noted during the examination of the airframe that would have contributed to a loss of control.
The propeller was separated from the crankshaft propeller flange and located in the debris field. One blade exhibited leading edge polishing and aft bending, while the other blade exhibited forward bending about mid span. The six propeller retention bolts were sheared at the propeller flange, and several bolts exhibited torsional bending. The engine was examined, and rotational continuity was verified through manual rotation of the crankshaft from the accessory drive to the propeller flange. Thumb compression and valve train continuity were verified at each cylinder. No anomalies that would have contributed to a loss of engine power were noted.
Medical Examination
The 56-year-old pilot had a history of severe, early coronary artery disease and a heart attack that required 3-vessel coronary artery bypass grafting in 1999. In 2003, he experienced recurrent chest pain and had a stent placed in the distal right coronary artery and an angioplasty of the second obtuse marginal. Six months later, in 2004, symptoms recurred; another catheterization demonstrated restenosis, and a stent was placed. In 2014, a diagnostic cardiac catheterization following an abnormal stress test identified that the arterial graft to the left anterior descending (LAD) coronary artery was no longer functional, with the vessel being fed from its native origin with about 30% stenosis. The remaining grafts and stents were patent, but the proximal right coronary artery was completely occluded. The pilot also reported having obstructive sleep apnea treated with a positive airway pressure (PAP) device, facial dystonia treated with routine botulinum toxin injections, and esophagitis. He had previous ear/nose/throat and orthopedic procedures. His medications included Repatha, clopidogrel, candesartan, and dexlansoprazole. The FAA reviewed his required annual stress test and other medical information. Electronic documentation of his PAP use indicated use for more than 99% of nights for an average of 6.5 hours. No significant abnormalities were identified on the remainder of the exam, and at his last exam he was issued a special issuance third class medical certificate marked, "Not Valid for Any Class After 9/30/2018; Must Wear Corrective Lenses." The pilot completed the requirements for BasicMed in June 2018.
An autopsy requested by the Vanderburgh County Coroner's Office determined the cause of death as multiple blunt force injuries and the manner of death as accident. The brain was not available for examination, and there was injury to the heart attributable to the accident, which limited the examination. The right coronary artery contained a stent and appeared 95% stenotic; the graft to that artery was not described. Calcific atherosclerotic plaque occluded 98% of the proximal third of the left anterior descending coronary artery; the graft to the LAD was not described. The graft to the marginal branch was patent. The myocardium looked generally unremarkable, but no microscopic evaluation was performed. The heart had biventricular dilation and weighed 450 gm; the right ventricle was 0.3 cm thick, and the left ventricle was 1.5 cm thick. The pathologist commented that the pilot's severe coronary artery disease did "not appear contributory to the cause of death." Toxicology testing did not identify any tested-for substances in available liver tissue.