NTSB Factual Report

HISTORY OF FLIGHT

On July 6, 2000, at about 0630 central daylight time, a Piper PA-22-150, piloted by a student pilot, was destroyed on impact with terrain and a postaccident fire while approaching to land on runway 09 (2,200 feet by 150 feet, dry turf) at the Blickhan Landing Area Airport (8H3), Quincy, Illinois. The 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight was not on a flight plan. Instrument meteorological conditions existed at the destination airport. The pilot and his one passenger were fatally injured. The flight originated from the pilot's private airstrip near LaPlata, Missouri at time unknown.

PERSONEL INFORMATION

The pilot was born on February 22, 1962 and was the holder of a student pilot certificate and a third class medical certificate issued on October 28, 1997. No pilot logbooks were located.

AIRCRAFT INFORMATION

The airplane was a Piper PA-22-150 serial number 22-2556 manufactured in 1954. The airplane was powered by a Lycoming O-320 series engine, serial number L-613-27, that produced 150 horsepower. No logbooks were located for the aircraft.

METEOROLOGICAL INFORMATION

A weather report for the Quincy Municipal Baldwin Field Airport, at 0631, listed the weather as: wind 330 degrees at 3 knots; visibility 2 statute miles; sky condition, few clouds at less than 100 feet, scattered clouds at 14,000 feet, broken clouds at 20,000 feet; temperature 70 degrees Fahrenheit; dewpoint 68 degrees Fahrenheit; altimeter setting 29.99 inches of mercury.

A witness reported fog and a visibility of less than 1/4 mile with "...virtually no ceiling" at the accident airport.

WRECKAGE AND IMPACT INFORMATION

A postaccident examination of the aircraft was conducted. The aircraft came to rest in a farm field of corn about 7 feet in height. The wreckage was located about 150 yards west of the approach end of runway 09 at 8H3. The entire aircraft was located and accounted for within an area approximately 40 feet in diameter. No wreckage path was found leading to the aircraft's final resting-place. The entire cockpit section and both wings exhibited evidence of fire damage.

Flight control system continuity was established from the control surfaces to their respective actuators. All control cables were found intact except for the two cables to the right wing aileron, which exhibited signatures consistent with tensile overload. No anomalies were found with respect to the airframe that could be associated with a preexisting condition.

The engine was examined and valve train continuity was established when the crankshaft was turned by hand. Thumb compression was established on all cylinders. The magnetos would not produce a spark when rotated by hand and both exhibited evidence of fire damage. No anomalies were found with respect to the engine that could be associated with a preexisting condition.

MEDICAL AND PATHOLOGICAL INFORMATION

An autopsy was performed on the pilot by Forensic Medical Services, Springfield, Illinois.

A forensic toxicology was performed by the Federal Aviation Administration. The results were negative for drugs and ethanol.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Parties to the investigation were: The New Piper Aircraft Company; Textron Lycoming; Federal Aviation Administration Flight Standards District Office, Springfield, Illinois.

The wreckage was released on July 12, 2000.

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilots failure to maintain control of the aircraft and his continued flight into adverse weather. Factors were the fog, and the crops.