History of Flight
On May 17, 2021, about 1308 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 182H airplane, N2430X, was destroyed when it collided with a radio tower guy wire near St. Louis, Michigan. The pilot was fatally injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 pipeline patrol flight.
According to the operator’s fleet monitoring data, the airplane departed Clare Municipal Airport (48D), Clare, Michigan, about 0828, and completed a pipeline patrol flight to the southeast. About 1128, the airplane landed at Romeo State Airport (D98), Romeo, Michigan. Fueling records indicate the pilot purchased 48.19 gallons of 100 low-lead aviation fuel before departing D98 about 1206. The accident occurred during a pipeline patrol flight tracking northwest toward Kalkaska, Michigan.
Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) radar data revealed that during the final 4.5 minutes of the flight, the airplane’s altitude was between 450 ft and 800 ft above ground level (agl) as it followed the intended pipeline. The airplane’s ground track was offset to the right of the pipeline until about 1307:35, when it crossed over the pipeline and continued northwest about 1,000 to 1,250 ft to the left of the pipeline. The operator reported that the airplane should be flown to the right of the pipeline to ensure the pilot, seated in the left cockpit seat, could maintain an unobstructed view.
Two individuals reported that the pilot posted a Snapchat video shortly before the accident. The video depicted the terrain ahead and showed wind turbines and cornfields located about 5 to 10 miles southeast of the accident site. The video was automatically deleted after 24 hours and reportedly did not include the final moments. One individual provided a screenshot showing the approximate location of the pilot when he posted the video. Compared to radar data, the post was about 1.5 miles southeast of a 1,049-ft-tall radio tower. According to a VFR sectional chart, the top of the radio tower was at 1,739 ft mean sea level (msl).
Radar data showed the airplane continued northwest toward the radio tower. At 1308:18, the airplane was 0.65 miles southeast of the tower in a shallow right turn when it entered a climb from 475 ft agl. The final radar return, at 1308:33, was about 600 ft east-southeast of the tower, with an altitude of about 1,370 ft msl, calibrated airspeed of 104 knots, and a climb rate of 1,575 ft per minute. The airplane’s final altitude was 370 ft below the top of the radio tower, and its ground track was toward the guy wires on the northeast side.
Wreckage and Impact Information
The wreckage debris path began near the radio tower. The left wing, left horizontal stabilizer, left elevator, and left cabin door were found near the tower and within the support guy wire perimeter.
Postaccident examination revealed that the airplane’s left wing collided with a support guy wire attached to the northeast side of the radio tower. The left wing separated at the wing root. Most of the left-wing leading edge separated along a lateral rivet line and exhibited damage consistent with a guy wire impact. The fresh air inlet tube in the leading edge showed a U-shape compression consistent with the diameter of the outermost guy wires. The left-wing lift strut and front spar were severed about 4 ft from the wing attach point, with similar U-shape compression. The left horizontal stabilizer and left elevator separated from the aft fuselage during the impact sequence, and the stabilizer’s leading edge exhibited damage consistent with ground impact.
The main wreckage was located in a dirt field about 0.3 mile northwest of the radio tower. All major airframe components and flight control surfaces were identified along the debris path. Most of the fuselage, cabin, and cockpit were destroyed by postaccident fire.
Postaccident examination did not reveal any evidence of a mechanical malfunction or failure that would have prevented normal operation before the collision. All physical damage was consistent with impact with a tower guy wire, ground impact, or postaccident fire.
Medical and Pathological Information
An autopsy of the pilot was authorized by the Midland County Coroner’s Office and completed at McLaren Bay Region Hospital in Bay City, Michigan. The cause of death was blunt force injuries and thermal burns, and the manner of death was an accident.
Toxicological testing by the FAA’s Forensic Sciences Laboratory identified amlodipine in the pilot’s blood and liver. Amlodipine is a calcium channel blocker used to treat high blood pressure and coronary artery disease. The pilot reported amlodipine use to his FAA medical examiner, who authorized its use and issued a first-class medical certificate. No other medications, ethanol, drugs of abuse, or carboxyhemoglobin were detected.