NTSB Factual Report

HISTORY OF FLIGHT

On January 14, 2016, about 1610 central standard time, a Piper PA-22-108 airplane, N4751Z, impacted terrain near Garden City, Texas. The airline transport rated pilot was fatally injured, and the airplane was destroyed. The pilot was operating the airplane under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91 as a personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. The airplane departed from the Midland Airpark (MDD), Midland, Texas, about 1545 and was en route to the Edwards Lucian Wells Ranch Airport (TX31), a private airport near Big Spring, Texas.

An employee of the pilot stated that the pilot planned to fly from MDD to TX31 to show the airplane to a friend, who was the owner of TX31. The employee reported that the pilot left the shop about 1400 and went to the airport. A witness at the airport, who spoke with the pilot before the airplane departed, confirmed that the pilot intended to fly the airplane to TX31. The witness saw the pilot start the engine about 1530, but he did not see the airplane take off. TX31 was located about 27 nautical miles east of MDD.

Family members reported the pilot missing the following day, and an alert notice was issued. The airplane was found by law enforcement via cell phone ping and a Civil Air Patrol pilot. The accident site was located about 8 nautical miles southwest of the intended destination, TX31, and about 6 nautical miles south of the direct route of flight. There were no known witnesses to the accident.

Radar coverage was available and detected other airplanes in the accident area using a transponder code of 1200. No radar data were found for the accident flight.

PERSONNEL INFORMATION

The pilot, age 73, held an airline transport pilot certificate with ratings for airplane multi-engine land, airplane single engine land, and rotorcraft-helicopter. The pilot also held a type rating for Learjet airplanes. Additionally, he held a flight instructor certificate with a single engine airplane rating, which had expired on December 31, 1987. On June 1, 2015, he was issued a third class medical certificate with the following limitation: must have available glasses for near vision. On the medical certificate application, the pilot reported his flight experience included 5,342 total hours and 0 hours in the preceding six months.

A review of the pilot's logbook revealed 5,345.8 total hours of which 3.2 hours were in the accident airplane. The pilot logged 5 flights in 2011 totaling 6.2 hours. There were no logbook entries from 2012 to 2014. The pilot logged 5 flights in 2015 totaling 4.4 hours. On October 25, 2015, the pilot completed a flight review with a flight instructor in a Cessna 206 airplane. On December 13, 2015, the pilot flew the accident airplane with a flight instructor, and the remarks section noted that the pilot completed stalls, steep turns, and landings.

AIRCRAFT INFORMATION

The Piper PA-22-108 Colt, serial number 22-8307, was a two-place, high-wing, tricycle landing gear airplane, manufactured in 1961. The airplane was constructed of metal tube and fabric and was equipped with one 18-gallon fuel tank located near the inboard portion of the left wing. The airplane was powered by a Lycoming O-235-C1B engine, serial number L-7020-15, rated at 108 horsepower at 2,600 rpm, which drove a two blade, fixed pitch, metal Sensenich propeller.

The airplane was sold to the pilot on November 30, 2015. On January 5, 2016, the FAA suspended the airplane's registration because the paperwork had not been submitted properly.

A review of the airplane's maintenance logbooks revealed that, on January 23, 2015, at a tachometer time of 3,501.92 hours, an airframe annual inspection and an engine 100-hour inspection were completed. The tachometer time at the accident site was 3,517.59 hours.

METEOROLOGICAL INFORMATION

At 1615, the automated weather observation station, located at the Big Spring McMahon-Wrinkle Airport (BPG), Big Spring, Texas, about 16 miles northeast of the accident site, recorded wind from 230° at 15 knots, visibility 10 miles, clear sky, temperature 63° F, dew point 23° F, and altimeter setting 29.74 inches of mercury. The reported weather conditions at other stations near the accident site included clear skies, visibility of 10 miles, and wind from the west at less than 20 knots.

There was no evidence of the pilot receiving a weather briefing. A review of weather information found no applicable pilot reports and no evidence of convective activity, a significant surface wind condition, or a low-level wind shear hazard in the accident area. There was an active airmen's meteorological information (AIRMET) for moderate turbulence below 10,000 ft.

WRECKAGE AND IMPACT INFORMATION

The main wreckage came to rest in an area of mostly flat terrain with mesquite trees and shrubs immediately adjacent to a caliche pit, which was surrounded on three sides by large dirt piles. The dirt piles were a brownish color, similar to the color of the flat terrain surrounding the pit, and the pit was a contrasting whitish color. The caliche pit measured about 35 ft from the bottom to the top of the dirt piles. The initial impact point was on the west side of a large dirt pile that defined the eastern boundary of the caliche pit. The debris field and main wreckage were located on top of and to the east of the dirt pile. The debris field extended 100 yards to the east on a heading of 065° magnetic. The engine was found about 30 yards from the initial impact point, and the main wreckage was 10 yards beyond that. The farthest extent of the debris path was defined by a piece of broken windscreen.

The initial impact area on the side of the dirt pile was defined by several areas of disturbed dirt and airplane debris. The first impact marks were toward the bottom of the dirt pile and were spaced similar to the airplane's landing gear. A horizontal line of debris and white paint chips, about 26 ft in length, was noted near the top of the dirt pile. On the left side of the line were pieces of broken red lens, and on the far right side were pieces of green lens. The propeller was found detached from the engine and partially embedded near the top of the dirt pile. The propeller blades exhibited chordwise scratches, leading edge gouges and polishing, and S-shape bending. The propeller spinner was crushed inward. The propeller mounting bolt holes were elongated.

The engine was found inverted in the middle of the debris path and sustained impact damage. The carburetor, starter, generator, and one magneto had separated during impact and were found near the engine. The other magneto remained attached to the engine and was impact damaged. When rotated by hand, neither magneto was able to produce a spark due to internal damage. The carburetor air box, all intake piping, and all fluid carrying lines were impact damaged. The pushrods and rocker arms appeared in place and secure. The engine oil appeared clean. The crankshaft could not be rotated due to impact damage and rearward bending of the propeller flange. To the extent that the engine could be examined, there was no evidence of preimpact anomalies.

The main wreckage was found upright and consisted of the left and right wings, fuselage and empennage. The fuselage was impact damaged and had been cut open to facilitate the pilot's extraction. The pilot seat was impact damaged and partially separated from the fuselage. The left wing was partially separated from the fuselage and exhibited impact damage. The left aileron remained attached and sustained impact damage. The right wing was partially separated from the fuselage. The empennage remained attached to the rear fuselage, and the vertical stabilizer and rudder were in place, but the lower rudder hinge point was impact separated. The horizontal stabilizer and elevator remained attached and were impact damaged. The rudder cables remained attached to the rudder bar and were continuous to the rudder bellcrank. The elevator control cables were attached to the elevator control horn and to the elevator bellcrank; both cables had been cut to facilitate the pilot's extraction. The elevator bellcrank rod was impact separated. The pitch trim jackscrew was found in a neutral setting. The left and right aileron control cables remained attached and were continuous from the control wheel chain to their respective bellcranks. The airplane was not equipped with flaps. The right landing gear remained attached, the nose gear was separated and found in the debris path about 15 yards beyond the initial impact, and the left main gear was separated and found beyond the main wreckage. There was no evidence of preimpact anomalies with the airframe that would have precluded normal operation.

The fuel selector was found in the "ON" position. The investigation was unable to determine the amount of fuel onboard before departure or the last time the airplane had been fueled. The emergency locator transmitter (ELT) was found separated from the airplane, and the switch was in the "ON" position; the ELT transmission was detected by the US Air Force. The cockpit instruments were impact damaged; the tachometer showed 3,517.59 hours, and the altimeter's Kollsman window was set to 29.92. The communication radio was set to 122.8 Megahertz (MHz), a popular common traffic advisory frequency. The navigation radio was set to 114.8 MHz, which was the same frequency as the Midland Very High Frequency Omni Directional Radio Range navigation aid.

A damaged cell phone was found in cockpit area, and its battery had separated from the phone. Law enforcement used the ping of this cell phone to locate the wreckage. An unfolded San Antonio Visual Flight Rules Sectional Aeronautical Chart was found next to the wreckage. The chart showed the area encompassing the direct route of flight and the accident location.

MEDICAL AND PATHOLOGICAL INFORMATION

South Plains Forensic Pathology, P.A., Lubbock, Texas, completed an autopsy of the pilot, and the cause of death was attributed to visceral injuries due to blunt impact trauma. The Bioaeronautical Research Laboratory at the FAA's Civil Aerospace Medical Institute conducted toxicological testing, which revealed the presence of amlodipine and was negative for other substances.

Amlodipine (generic and brand name Norvasc) was a prescription medication used to treat high blood pressure. The pilot had previously reported this medication to the FAA.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Title 14 CFR Part 91.119 Minimum Safe Altitudes

Except when necessary for takeoff or landing, no person may operate an aircraft below the following altitudes: (c) Over other than congested areas. An altitude of 500 feet above the surface, except over open water or sparsely populated areas. In those cases, the aircraft may not be operated closer than 500 feet to any person, vessel, vehicle, or structure.

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilot's failure to maintain clearance with terrain during a low altitude flight.