History of Flight
On June 6, 2020, at 1523 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 172 airplane, registration N13520, was destroyed when it crashed near New Washington, Indiana. The student pilot, who was the sole occupant, sustained fatal injuries. The flight was conducted as a solo instructional flight under Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91.
The pilot’s flight instructor reported that the student was to practice maneuvers in the northeast practice area near New Washington in preparation for his private pilot check ride. The instructor tracked the airplane on his phone and noted that the flight track disappeared approximately 20 minutes after departure. The student was expected to return by 1700.
Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) data indicated that the airplane departed Bowman Field Airport (LOU) in Louisville, Kentucky, at 1509. It proceeded northeast along the Ohio River, climbing to about 3,000 ft above ground level (AGL). Approximately 2 nautical miles south of New Washington, the airplane performed three consecutive left steep turn maneuvers while maintaining about 3,000 ft AGL. At 1523:09, the airplane began a descent and turned southeast. The flight track evolved into a steep dive with a descent rate exceeding 10,000 ft per minute and a calculated groundspeed of approximately 170 knots. The final ADS-B data point was recorded at 1523:34 at 165 ft AGL.
Personnel Information
The flight instructor stated that he and the student pilot had flown together the day before the accident, completing a “mock check ride” in preparation for the student’s private pilot check ride, scheduled six days later. The instructor considered the student well prepared to pass the check ride, noting that the student had requested an additional solo flight for extra practice. The instructor described the student as “one of his best” and “always well prepared.”
Wreckage and Impact Information
The airplane wreckage was located in a field. The initial impact point was identified by several shallow craters and disturbed dirt. The wreckage debris path was oriented on a 130° heading and extended approximately 300 yards. All major components were present at the site, and no post-impact fire occurred.
Federal Aviation Administration inspectors conducted an initial examination of the wreckage. The propeller had separated from the engine and was found about 30 yards from the initial impact. Both wings had separated at the wing roots and were located about 100 yards from the initial impact point. The engine had separated from its mount and was found about 220 yards from the initial impact. The farthest piece of wreckage was a portion of the left fuel tank and filler port.
A postaccident examination revealed significant impact damage and separations to the airframe. Flight cables remained attached to their respective control surfaces, and control continuity was confirmed through several tensile overload separations in the cockpit area. The engine sustained severe impact damage, with most accessories separated. The crankshaft could be manually rotated, though binding was noted due to impact damage. Continuity from the crankshaft to the rear gears and valve train was confirmed. Compression and suction were obtained for each cylinder when the crankshaft was rotated. One propeller blade exhibited longitudinal twisting toward the blade face and was impact separated about midspan; the outboard portion was not found. The other blade was bent aft approximately 100° with longitudinal twisting toward the blade face, leading and trailing edge gouges, and “S” bending. No anomalies were identified with the engine or airframe that would have precluded normal operation.
Medical and Pathological Information
An autopsy of the pilot, performed by Scott Funeral Home in Jeffersonville, Indiana, and authorized by the Clark County Chief Deputy Coroner, determined the cause of death as multiple blunt force injuries and the manner as accident. Toxicology testing conducted at the FAA Forensic Sciences Laboratory found no drugs of abuse.