Accident Summary
On June 10, 2024, about 1311 Eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-28-140, registration N1039X, was substantially damaged when it collided with terrain near Clinton, Michigan. The flight instructor was fatally injured, and the student pilot received serious injuries. The airplane was operated by Solo Aviation Inc. as a Part 91 instructional flight.
Flight History
The flight departed Ann Arbor Municipal Airport (ARB) around 1132 for initial flight training maneuvers, marking the first time the instructor and student flew together. ADS-B data indicated the flight proceeded normally until about 1308, when the pilot contacted the ARB tower controller and received the local altimeter setting and instructions to proceed straight in for Runway 6. Approximately one minute later, the airplane began descending while entering a left turn. The controller inquired if the flight was still inbound but received no response. The airplane continued descending to about 1,000 ft msl and then disappeared from radar. No further communications were logged.
Accident Site and Wreckage
The airplane impacted a field about 13 nautical miles southwest of ARB at an elevation of 910 ft msl. The first point of impact was a shallow ground scar containing pieces of the right wingtip, located about 35 ft north of the main wreckage. The main wreckage came to rest on a magnetic heading of 270°. All major structural components were present at the site. The right wing had separated from the fuselage, and the forward fuselage was partially separated forward of the cabin door frame. The ground scars and damage pattern were consistent with a steep nose-down, right-wing-low impact attitude.
Fuel System Examination
Fuel records indicated the airplane was fueled on June 8, 2024, at 12:25 with 13.9 gallons. A representative from Solo Aviation stated that fuelers were instructed to fill instructional aircraft “to the tabs.” Flight logs showed one flight of about 1.2 hours on June 8 after fueling, with no additional fueling before the accident flight. Postaccident, the left fuel tank was drained and yielded approximately 1.25 gallons of blue liquid with a smell consistent with AVGAS. A water test revealed no contamination. An unknown quantity of fuel from the left tank leaked from a severed fuel line during recovery. The right fuel tank contained only a trace amount of liquid, also consistent with AVGAS odor, and tested negative for water. The right fuel cap was secure, its seal intact and pliable, and the tank showed no breaches or leaks after recovery. No fuel blight, moist soil, or staining was observed in the area of the right wing.
The fuel selector handle and valve were found positioned between the left tank and off positions, with the handle rotated past the lockout toward Off. The valve was tested with low air pressure and did not allow flow in its as-found configuration.
Flight Controls
Flight control continuity was established through impact separations and cuts made by rescue personnel. The wreckage was recovered and transported to a secure location for further examination.