History of Flight
On June 13, 2021, about 2355 central daylight time, a Piper PA-32-260 airplane, N3258W, was substantially damaged when it struck trees and terrain near Madisonville, Texas. The private pilot was fatally injured, and five passengers received serious injuries. The flight was conducted under Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. According to automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast data, the airplane departed from Port Isabel-Cameron County Airport, Port Isabel, Texas, about 2121 and proceeded to Madisonville Municipal Airport (51R). The airplane impacted 50-ft-tall trees about 680 ft south of the approach end of runway 36 and came to rest about 550 ft south of the runway.
Personnel Information
A pilot logbook found in the wreckage contained two most recent entries dated October 10, 2018, and November 8, with no year specified for the latter. The pilot's recency of experience and the date of his most recent flight review could not be determined from available records.
Aircraft Information
The airplane's maintenance logs were not located. A mechanic who completed the most recent annual inspection reported that he performed an extensive annual inspection in July or August 2020.
Wreckage and Impact Information
The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and wings due to impact with trees and terrain. The propeller displayed S-bending consistent with the engine producing power at impact. Trees along the wreckage path exhibited slash marks indicative of propeller strikes. The wing flaps were fully extended. Flight control continuity was confirmed. Examination revealed no mechanical anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. The rotating beacon and landing light switches were in the OFF position, and the landing light filament did not exhibit stretching.
Medical and Pathological Information
At his most recent Federal Aviation Administration medical examination, the pilot reported taking no medications and having no medical conditions. An autopsy determined the cause of death as blunt force injuries, with the manner of death classified as accident. The autopsy identified an approximate 85% narrowing of the left anterior descending coronary artery, but no other significant natural disease. Toxicological testing by the FAA Forensic Sciences Laboratory detected the antidepressant sertraline at 1,006 nanograms per milliliter (ng/mL) and its metabolite desmethysertraline at 1,533 ng/mL in the pilot's heart blood; both were also found in his urine. The non-impairing medications salicylic acid and atorvastatin were also detected.