History of Flight
On September 1, 2020, at about 1245 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-24-250 airplane, registration N5939P, was substantially damaged during an accident near Midland, Michigan. The pilot-rated passenger was fatally injured, and the pilot was seriously injured. The flight was operated as a personal flight under Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91.
According to automatic dependent surveillance broadcast (ADS-B) data, the airplane departed Home Acres Sky Ranch Airport (Y91), Lake City, Michigan, around 1125, and arrived at Jack Barstow Airport (IKW) in Midland about 1205. The ADS-B data indicated a touch-and-go landing followed by a full stop landing.
The pilot stated that he and his wife, the pilot-rated passenger, preflighted the airplane. The right fuel tank was full, and the left fuel tank was "partially full." They flew to IKW that morning, with his wife as the pilot flying. After landing and taxiing back for takeoff, they completed a second landing and then taxied to the fuel pumps, where they added 18 gallons of 100-LL aviation gasoline to the left fuel tank. The pilot recalled that the right tank remained full. He likely assumed the pilot flying role for the next leg. He recalled taxiing for takeoff and performing an engine runup but had no recollection after the takeoff roll.
ADS-B data indicated the airplane took off about 1237 and climbed straight ahead to about 2,550 ft mean sea level (msl). It then began a right turn back toward IKW. The last recorded data point showed the airplane at 1244:34 at an indicated altitude of 675 ft msl. The airplane struck a large grass-covered mound of dirt before coming to rest upright.
A person monitoring the common traffic advisory frequency at the airport reported that the pilot announced an engine failure and stated he would perform a forced landing to the field.
Wreckage and Impact Information
The airplane came to rest about 50 ft west of the dirt mound. Impact damage was observed to a barbed wire fence. About 15 ft west of the fence, a second dirt mound exhibited freshly disturbed earth similar in width to the fuselage. A faint fuel-like odor was noted. Blighted grass was observed around the left wing root, extending about 10 ft to the southwest. The landowner indicated the grass was alive before the accident. The main wreckage included the empennage, fuselage, both wings, and the engine and propeller assembly.
The flaps were in the up position, and the flap handle appeared stowed. The fuel selector remained in place within the cabin floor, positioned to the right fuel tank. When the fuel selector was removed, fuel emerged from the fuel line to the left tank, but no fuel emerged from the line to the right tank. The fuel selector functioned normally when tested with light air pressure. The belly of the airplane was crushed upward and aft, with blue staining present. The gascolator appeared undamaged with the valve closed; no fuel was in the bowl, and no contaminants were observed.
The left fuel cap remained installed; a small amount of fuel was observed in the bladder bottom. During recovery, fuel streamed from the left wing root. The fuel bladder inspection panel was removed, revealing a tear to the inboard end of the left fuel bladder. No fuel staining was noted within the wing root. The right fuel cap remained installed; a small amount of fuel was observed on the bladder bottom. No fuel spilled from the right wing during recovery. The right fuel bladder inspection panel showed no damage, and no fuel staining was noted.
Both ailerons remained attached, with undamaged bellcranks and stops; cables were intact. The vertical stabilizer and rudder were undamaged, with cables traced to the rudder pedal bar; stops were undamaged.
The engine remained attached but was displaced aft and downward. The carburetor broke away from the oil sump and was displaced aft. Fuel pump screens from the electric pumps had no blockages; about 1-2 ounces of fuel was recovered from the pumps and tested negative for water with Kolor-Kut paste. The blighted grass extended under the left wing root and left forward fuselage, but not under the right side.
Rotating the propeller confirmed crankshaft continuity to the rear gears and valvetrain. Normal valve action was observed on all cylinders, with compression and suction. Spark plug electrodes showed gray coloration and normal wear.
The carburetor throttle control arm was about 1/8 inch from the idle speed stop; the mixture control arm was in a mid-range position. The carburetor induction air box was crushed; the carburetor heat control arm position was undetermined. Partial disassembly of the carburetor revealed no liquid in the float bowl and no damage to the composite floats. No liquid drained from the carburetor fuel inlet hose; the fuel inlet screen was partially crushed but free of debris. The engine-driven fuel pump had no liquid draining from inlet or outlet hoses; partial disassembly showed no damage to diaphragms or check valves.