History of Flight
On July 14, 2021, at about 1238 central daylight time, a Piper PA-28-180 airplane, registration N2801T, was destroyed when it impacted a farm field near Muscatine, Iowa. The pilot and passenger were fatally injured. The flight was conducted as a personal flight under Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91.
The airplane departed Ford Airport (IMT) in Iron Mountain, Michigan, with an intended destination of Nevada Municipal Airport (NVD) in Nevada, Missouri. Automatic dependent surveillance–broadcast (ADS-B) data indicated that the airplane initially proceeded on a direct course toward NVD at an altitude of about 4,500 ft mean sea level (msl). Approximately one hour after departure, the airplane entered an area of thunderstorm activity and began a series of course and altitude changes. Just before the accident, the airplane entered a descending right turn from about 2,900 ft msl, during which the turn radius decreased and the descent rate increased until the data ended.
Personnel Information
The pilot held a private pilot certificate with a rating for airplane single-engine land and did not hold an instrument rating. His flight logbooks indicated approximately 227 total hours of flight experience as of the last entry dated July 8, 2020.
Meteorological Information
The National Weather Service (NWS) Aviation Weather Center had issued a Convective SIGMET for the accident location at the time of the accident, warning of severe thunderstorms with hazards including 1-inch hail. Weather radar imagery showed thunderstorm activity at the accident site, with 0.85-inch hail in the immediate vicinity. At 1221, the Weather Forecasting Office for Quad City, Iowa, issued an area forecast discussion noting showers and thunderstorms near the area, bringing marginal VFR conditions with IFR conditions in some heavier storms, and potential wind gusts to 50 kts and hail. Whether the pilot obtained a weather briefing prior to the flight is unknown. No flight plan was filed.
Wreckage and Impact Information
The airplane impacted a farm field on a southerly heading. Upon impact, the airplane fragmented, and the wreckage was distributed in a fan-shaped pattern. The fuselage came to rest about 435 ft south of the initial impact point. A postaccident examination of the airframe and engine revealed no evidence of mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation.
Communications
The pilot was not in contact with air traffic control during the flight.
Medical and Pathological Information
Toxicology testing performed by the FAA's Forensic Sciences Laboratory identified 2.3 ng/ml of carboxy-delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinal (THC-COOH) in the pilot's blood and liver. THC-COOH is the primary inactive metabolite of tetrahydrocannabinal (THC), the psychoactive compound in cannabis. Additionally, diphenhydramine and caffeine were identified in the pilot's spleen and liver. No active substances were identified in the pilot's blood.