History of Flight
On March 25, 2023, at 1251 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-28-161, N21480, was substantially damaged when it impacted a marsh near John's Island, South Carolina. The private pilot, who was not instrument-rated, was fatally injured. The flight was operated as a personal flight under Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91.
The pilot departed Machias, Maine, about 0820, made two fuel stops, and landed at Tarboro–Edgecombe Airport (ETC) in North Carolina about 1800. After spending the night in the pilot's lounge, he departed at 0814 the next morning for Conroy-Horry County Airport (HYW), South Carolina, arriving about 1043. An employee at HYW reported that the pilot appeared tired and mentioned fighting a strong headwind. The pilot checked the weather and considered staying, but departed at 1156 for Palatka Municipal Airport (28J) in Florida.
At 1243, an air traffic controller asked if he wanted to climb higher; the pilot declined, stating he wanted to stay low to maintain VFR due to clouds. At 1251, the controller noticed the airplane turning right and descending. The pilot declared a mayday, stating he was in the clouds and going down. Two witnesses observed the airplane descending nose-first at high speed; one heard the engine popping, the other heard a high-pitched whining sound followed by chopping noises as it struck the marsh.
Meteorological Information
Weather information indicated the accident site was near an outflow boundary. Satellite imagery showed a 2-mile-wide, 10- to 15-mile-long cloud area along the coastline with cloud tops about 3,500 ft msl. A Graphical Forecast for Aviation valid at the accident time forecast cloud bases around 2,100 ft msl. The High-Resolution Rapid Refresh model indicated unstable conditions from the surface to 1,000 ft. AIRMET and G-AIRMET advisories for moderate turbulence were issued. Surface observations from Charleston Executive Airport (JZI), 2 miles from the site, reported broken clouds at 1,300 ft and 1,700 ft agl with 10 miles visibility at 1235, and an overcast ceiling at 1,300 ft at 1255. The pilot did not obtain a weather briefing from Leidos Flight Service; he accessed ForeFlight about 1130 but did not file a flight plan or request a briefing.
Pilot Information
The pilot held a private pilot certificate with a single-engine land rating but no instrument rating. His last FAA medical certificate was issued March 3, 2022, reporting 740 total flight hours. His logbook was not located.
Wreckage Information
The airplane impacted a marsh and was embedded in mud, water, and vegetation. The wreckage was consistent with a nose-low, high-speed impact. No postimpact fire occurred. Fuel was present. All major components were found. Both wings, fuselage, and tail section showed extensive impact damage; flight control continuity was established to the cockpit. The flap selector handle was in the third notch position. The attitude indicator and directional gyros showed no scoring inside. The engine exhibited no preimpact mechanical malfunctions; crankshaft continuity, compression, and suction were confirmed. Mud and water were present in the crankcase and cylinders. No anomalies were observed other than water, mud, and corrosion. No preimpact failures were found that would have precluded normal operation.
Medical and Pathological Information
An autopsy determined the cause of death as multiple blunt force injuries from the airplane crash. Toxicology tests detected atorvastatin and lisinopril in the pilot's blood; neither is considered impairing.
Additional Information
The pilot's sleep-wake history could not be determined. Although the accident occurred at a time not typically associated with fatigue, the long-distance flying over two days, reported headwinds, and less-than-optimal sleeping arrangements suggest possible fatigue. This is consistent with the HYW employee's observation that the pilot appeared tired. Fatigue can impair judgment and performance. According to FAA guidance, when the natural horizon is obscured, pilots must rely on instruments; during low visibility, sensory conflicts can lead to spatial disorientation, which fatigue may exacerbate.