History of Flight
On May 3, 2022, about 1700 central daylight time, a Cessna 172, registration N6413B, was destroyed in an accident near Calhoun County Airport (F95), Altha, Florida. The private pilot and one passenger sustained fatal injuries, while two passengers were seriously injured. The flight was conducted as a personal flight under Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91.
According to the airport manager, the airplane departed from runway 36 with full fuel tanks. The pilot occupied the left cockpit seat, and the airplane owner, who did not hold a pilot certificate, was in the right seat.
Airport surveillance video and witness statements indicated that after lift-off, the airplane immediately assumed a high angle of attack at a slow speed. It proceeded northbound past the departure end of runway 36, then made a left 270° turn at a low altitude without gaining altitude. The airplane continued eastbound across the departure end of the runway and descended behind a hangar. It subsequently impacted the ground, and a postcrash fire ensued. The engine was reported to be running throughout the accident sequence.
Personnel Information
The pilot's logbook was not located after the accident. On his most recent FAA medical certificate application, dated January 19, 2021, he reported 575 hours of total flight experience.
Meteorological Information
Calhoun County Airport had an automated weather observing system that did not issue recorded weather data for distribution. A witness reported observing the airport's windsock at the time of the accident, indicating surface wind from the west at 10 to 15 knots. Review of airport surveillance video showed visual meteorological conditions prevailing.
Wreckage and Impact Information
The airplane came to rest near the airport perimeter fence. The initial impact point consisted of propeller slash marks in the soil about 50 feet west-northwest of the main wreckage. Ground impact marks were consistent with a nose-low, right-wing-down attitude at impact. The wreckage was contained within a relatively compact area around the main wreckage. Most of the fuselage, including the cockpit and instrument panel, was destroyed by the postaccident fire.
Flight control continuity was confirmed from the flight control surfaces to the cockpit controls. The engine remained attached to the firewall, and the propeller remained attached to the engine. The mechanical flap handle was found in the 10° position, and the elevator trim was at neutral.
During a postaccident examination, the left and right magnetos were removed for testing. The left magneto was heat damaged and did not produce a spark on any lead; internal heat damage was noted upon disassembly. The right magneto produced spark on all leads when tested. Manual rotation of the propeller showed compression and suction on all cylinders, with correct valve action. Internal engine continuity was confirmed via the rear accessory drive gears. The carburetor inlet screen was clean and free of contaminants. No evidence of a pre-existing mechanical malfunction or failure that would have precluded normal operation was found.
Additional Information
A review of the airplane's weight and balance at the time of the accident was conducted. Pilot and passenger weights were obtained from autopsy and hospital records. The estimated weight of the airplane was 2,424 pounds, which exceeded the maximum allowable gross weight of 2,200 pounds by 224 pounds. At this gross weight, the center of gravity was not within the allowable operating envelope. One of the surviving passengers reported that the pilot did not ask him how much he weighed and that he did not observe the pilot performing a weight and balance calculation before the flight.
Medical and Pathological Information
An autopsy on the pilot was performed by the Office of the Medical Examiner, District 14, Panama City, Florida. The pilot's cause of death was multiple blunt traumatic and thermal injuries. Toxicological testing by the FAA Forensic Sciences Laboratory was negative for carboxyhemoglobin, ethanol, general drugs, and drugs of abuse.