Accident
On February 13, 2021, at about 1627 Pacific standard time, a Piper PA46R-350T airplane, N40TS, was destroyed when it was involved in an accident near Tehachapi, California. The non-instrument-rated pilot was fatally injured. The airplane was operated as a personal flight under Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91.
Flight Track Data
Flight track data revealed that the airplane departed from Camarillo Airport (CMA), Camarillo, California, and flew an outbound heading of about 61° true for about 7 minutes before turning to a heading of about 32° true. The airplane remained on this heading and climbed to a maximum altitude of 10,650 ft mean sea level (msl) 9 minutes later. The altitude remained about 10,500 ft for about 10 minutes then made a slow descent over the next 5 minutes before dropping off radar. Near the end of the track, a tight left turn followed by a steep descending spiral left turn was observed. The last track data was over the accident site.
Discovery
Concerned family members contacted the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) the following day, and an alert notice (ALNOT) was issued for the missing airplane. The airplane was found on the morning of February 15 in rugged steep terrain.
Pilot Background
According to a family member, the pilot regularly flew from CMA to Mammoth Yosemite Airport (MMH), Mammoth Lakes, California, where he had a home. The family member also stated that the pilot had flown his helicopter for about an hour with his flight instructor on the day of the accident before departing on the accident flight. An FAA accident coordinator interviewed the flight instructor, who reported that the pilot appeared to be in good spirits and was "very physically capable of flying the accident airplane on that day." At his most recent FAA medical certification examination on June 5, 2020, the pilot reported no medication use or medical conditions other than a back injury from a car accident in 2014. No personal flight records were located for the non-instrument-rated pilot.
Weather Information
Weather around the accident site was reported as marginal visual flight rules (MVFR) conditions due to low ceilings and visibility in light rain and mist before the accident, with peak winds reported to 40 knots. The National Weather Service had advisories current for turbulence over the region, including G-AIRMET Tango and Center Weather Advisory for severe turbulence below 15,000 ft. The closest weather reporting station, Tehachapi Municipal Airport (TSP), reported at 1615 PST: wind from 310° at 19 knots gusting to 26 knots, visibility 10 miles or more, ceiling broken at 1,200 ft agl, broken at 1,700 ft, overcast at 2,500 ft. The Mojave Air and Space Port (MHV) reported at 1620 PST: wind from 300° at 33 knots gusting to 47 knots, visibility 10 miles or more, sky clear below 12,000 ft agl.
Medical and Pathological Information
According to the autopsy report from the Sheriff-Coroner-Public Administration Office, Bakersfield, California, the pilot’s death was caused by multiple injuries and the manner of death was accident. Toxicology testing detected diazepam and its metabolites (nordiazepam, oxazepam, temazepam), butorphanol, carisoprodol and its metabolite meprobamate, and citalopram and its metabolite n-desmethylcitalopram in muscle and lung tissue. No blood was available for testing. Diazepam (Valium) is a sedating benzodiazepine; butorphanol is a synthetic opioid; carisoprodol (Soma) is a muscle relaxant; citalopram (Celexa) is an antidepressant. All carry warnings that they may impair mental and physical ability to perform hazardous tasks.
Wreckage and Examination
Accident site photos revealed that the airplane impacted a steep north-facing slope. The airplane was found in several sections, and postcrash fire damage was concentrated to the cabin section and inboard wings. All flight controls were identified at the accident site, elevation about 4,900 ft msl. Postaccident examination of the airframe and engine revealed no evidence of mechanical malfunction or failures that would have precluded normal operation. The backup attitude indicator was disassembled; the vacuum-powered rotor and housing revealed rotational scoring damage to both.
Maintenance Records
The last entry in the aircraft maintenance logbook indicated an annual inspection performed on November 20, 2020, at a tachometer reading of 877.7 hours. The engine was overhauled and installed on August 1, 2019, at a tachometer time of 798.2 hours. Airframe total time was not obtained.