Introduction
On April 7, 2023, at 1443 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-32-260, registration N44588, was involved in an accident near Sebastian, Florida. The airplane sustained substantial damage, and the private pilot was fatally injured. The flight was conducted under Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight.
Flight History
The flight departed from X26 at about 1330 and proceeded eastward, flying over the coast of Florida for approximately one hour. During this time, the pilot conducted maneuvers at about 4,000 ft mean sea level, including turns, climbs, and descents, before returning inland. The pilot performed several other maneuvers and then initiated a 5-nautical mile straight-in approach to runway 10, which is a 3,199-ft-long paved runway.
Accident Sequence
Several witnesses located in a skydive drop zone about 600 ft from the approach end of runway 10 observed the airplane on final approach. They reported that the airplane appeared slower than normal and that its wings were wobbling as it approached. As the airplane descended, it touched down hard, then bounced back into the air with a nose-up attitude. A rapid increase in engine power occurred simultaneously. The left wing then dropped, and the airplane rolled to the left and descended. The left wing contacted the ground off the side of the runway, and the airplane cartwheeled about 75 ft before coming to rest.
Aircraft Examination
The airplane came to rest inverted on the left side of the fuselage on level terrain north of the runway at an elevation of 22 ft mean sea level. The wreckage path was oriented on a heading of 345° magnetic. Ground scars at the initial impact point contained red position light glass and portions of the auxiliary fuel tank. The left wing sheared off, and the propeller struck the ground, creating symmetrical 6-inch-deep gouges in the soil. The left wing fuel tank contained about 15 gallons of aviation fuel, and the right wing fuel tank also contained about 15 gallons. The fuel selector was found in the right main tank position and operated normally. Flight control continuity was established from all primary surfaces to the main cabin area, with the left aileron cables exhibiting overload failure. The stabilator trim jackscrew measured 1 inch, consistent with a neutral to nose-up trim position. The flap handle and actuators were in the fully extended position. The pilot's seatbelts and shoulder harness were cleanly cut, indicating they were in use. The forward fuselage was buckled and crumpled, with the most severe damage on the left side. The engine and propeller controls were in the full forward position. No post-impact fire occurred. Examination of the engine revealed no preimpact anomalies: the carburetor was impact-separated, the fuel line contained no fuel, the electric fuel pump operated, the magnetos produced spark, spark plugs appeared normal, and engine continuity and compression were confirmed on all six cylinders. The propeller blades showed damage consistent with rotation at impact.
Pilot Information
The pilot held an FAA first-class medical certificate issued on March 8, 2023. According to his logbook, he had about 606 hours of total flight experience, with 105 hours in the accident airplane. His most recent flight review was completed on February 12, 2020. In the 12 months before the accident, he averaged about 4 flights per month, with an average duration of 1.2 hours per flight. An autopsy determined the cause of death as multiple blunt force injuries, and the manner was accident. Toxicology testing found no impairing substances or alcohol.
Probable Cause
The official report did not assign a probable cause for this accident.