What happened
On June 17, 2023, a Piper PA-30, registration N7628Y, crashed near Ebensburg, Pennsylvania, shortly after departing Ebensburg Airport (9G8). The flight was being operated under instrument flight rules (IFR) for a planned trip to Ocean City Municipal Airport (OXB) in Maryland.
At approximately 0500, the pilot taxied from the ramp and departed runway 25 at 0504. ADS-B data showed the aircraft entered a climbing left-hand turn after takeoff, reaching an altitude of approximately 3,600 feet mean sea level (msl). The aircraft continued this left turn for about 360 degrees until the last observed position was at 3,000 feet msl on a south-southeasterly heading.
The aircraft impacted trees and terrain approximately 2 miles south of the departure airport. The wreckage was highly fragmented, and the impact was consistent with a 55-degree left bank and a 30-degree descent angle. The crash resulted in 2 fatal injuries for the pilot and the passenger.
At the time of the accident, the area was experiencing instrument meteorological conditions (IMC). Nearby weather reporting at Johnstown/Cambria County Airport (JST) indicated an overcast ceiling of 200 feet and visibility of 1.5 miles. The accident occurred during the period of early morning twilight.
The investigation
Investigators examined the wreckage, which was distributed across a debris field roughly 375 feet long and 120 feet wide. Examination of the airframe, engines, and propellers revealed no evidence of mechanical malfunction or anomalies that would have prevented normal operation.
Control cables for the ailerons, rudder, and stabilator showed separations consistent with overstress during the impact. The left engine was found inverted and heavily fragmented, with the crankshaft and camshaft broken. The right engine was found against a tree in a near-vertical position. Both engines and propellers were found to be functional prior to the impact forces.
Postmortem toxicological testing of the pilot's muscle tissue detected ethanol at 0.029 g/hg. However, investigators could not determine if this level of consumption caused any impairment.