What happened
On August 30, 2020, a Piper PA-24-250 bearing registration N7469P was involved in an accident near Bryan, Texas. The aircraft was being operated under Part 91 for a local sightseeing flight. The pilot and two passengers sustained 3 fatal injuries, while one passenger sustained 1 serious injury.
Security footage from Coulter Field Airport (CFD) captured the aircraft taking off from runway 15, but the subsequent accident was not recorded. The wreckage was located in a flat grass field on airport property, situated at the departure end of runway 15. The aircraft sustained substantial damage to the fuselage, both wings, and the empennage.
The investigation
An examination of the airframe confirmed that the flight controls were continuous. The fuel tank selector handle was found in the right main position and functioned correctly through all other positions. While the right main fuel cell showed no tears or damage, manual manipulation revealed no usable fuel in the lowest portion of the cell.
An inspection of the engine found no mechanical failures that would have prevented normal operation. The three-bladed constant speed propeller remained attached to the crankshaft flange and hub. However, rotational signatures on the propeller were consistent with the engine not being driven at the time of impact.
Estimates of the fuel status prior to the accident were derived from a photograph taken by a passenger. The estimates indicated the left inboard tank was approximately 1/4 full, the left outboard tank was between 1/2 to 3/4 full, the right inboard tank was between empty and 1/4 full, and the right outboard tank was approximately 3/4 full.
Toxicology testing of the pilot revealed the presence of cetirizine in the urine and heart blood, as well as oxymetazoline in the urine. The autopsy determined the cause of death was blunt force injuries.