Friday, January 15, 2016

Piper PA-22-108, N4751Z: Fatal accident occurred January 14, 2016 in Garden City, Glasscock County, Texas

Aviation Accident Final Report - National Transportation Safety Board: https://app.ntsb.gov/pdf

NTSB Identification: CEN16FA087
14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Thursday, January 14, 2016 in Garden City, TX
Probable Cause Approval Date: 04/20/2017
Aircraft: PIPER PA 22-108, registration: N4751Z
Injuries: 1 Fatal.

NTSB investigators either traveled in support of this investigation or conducted a significant amount of investigative work without any travel, and used data obtained from various sources to prepare this aircraft accident report.

The pilot had recently purchased the airplane and planned to fly it to a friend's private airport to show him the airplane. The private airport was located about 27 nautical miles east of the departure airport. A witness observed the pilot start the airplane's engine, but he did not observe the airplane take off. The airplane did not arrive at the destination, an alert notice was issued, and the wreckage was found the following day about 8 nautical miles southwest of the intended destination and about 6 nautical miles south of the direct route of flight. Although radar coverage was available and showed other airplanes in the accident area using a transponder code of 1200, no radar data were found for the accident flight. There were no known witnesses to the accident. The accident site was located in an area of mostly flat terrain with mesquite trees and shrubs immediately adjacent to a caliche pit that was surrounded by large dirt piles on three sides and measured about 35 ft from the bottom of the pit to the top of the dirt piles. The airplane struck the top of the dirt pile on the east side of the pit, and the debris extended 100 yards to the east, indicating that the airplane was heading east at impact. The damage to the airplane was consistent with impact at a high forward velocity in a relatively level attitude. The signatures observed on the propeller were consistent with the engine operating at a high power setting at the time of impact. There was no evidence of preimpact anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. 

A review of weather information found no evidence of convective activity, a significant surface wind condition, or a low-level wind shear hazard in the accident area. The reported weather conditions at stations near the accident site included clear skies, visibility of 10 miles, and wind from the west at less than 20 knots. 

Although the caliche pit was a whitish color that contrasted with the brownish color of the surrounding flat terrain, the dirt pile that the airplane struck was similar in color to the surrounding terrain. Due to this color similarity, it is possible that, while flying at low altitude, the pilot did not recognize that the dirt pile was higher than the surrounding flat terrain.

The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident as follows:
The pilot's failure to maintain clearance with terrain during a low altitude flight.


Former Midland County Sheriff Dallas Smith 


The National Transportation Safety Board traveled to the scene of this accident.

Additional Participating Entities:  
Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office;  Lubbock, Texas
Piper Aircraft; Texas
Lycoming Engines; Texas

Docket And Docket Items -  National Transportation Safety Board: https://dms.ntsb.gov/pubdms

Aviation Accident Factual Report  -  National Transportation Safety Board:  https://app.ntsb.gov/pdf

http://registry.faa.gov/N4751Z 




NTSB Identification: CEN16FA087
14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Thursday, January 14, 2016 in Garden City, TX
Aircraft: PIPER PA 22-108, registration: N4751Z
Injuries: 1 Fatal.

NTSB investigators either traveled in support of this investigation or conducted a significant amount of investigative work without any travel, and used data obtained from various sources to prepare this aircraft accident 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.


Former Midland County Sheriff Dallas Smith 

Dallas Smith 


NTSB Identification: CEN16FA087 
14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Thursday, January 14, 2016 in Garden City, TX
Aircraft: PIPER PA 22-108, registration: N4751Z
Injuries: 1 Fatal.

This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this report will be corrected when the final report has been completed. NTSB investigators either traveled in support of this investigation or conducted a significant amount of investigative work without any travel, and used data obtained from various sources to prepare this aircraft accident report.


On January 14, 2016, at 1609 central standard time a Piper PA22-108 airplane, N4751Z, impacted terrain near Garden City, Texas. The pilot, who was the sole occupant, was fatally injured and the airplane was destroyed. The airplane's registration was suspended and it was operated by a private individual under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations 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), Big Spring, Texas. 


An employee of the pilot stated that the pilot intended to fly from MDD to TX31 to show the airplane to a friend. He reported that the pilot left the shop about 1400 and went to the airport. 


A witness at the airport who spoke with the pilot prior to departure stated that the pilot was flying the airplane to TX31 to meet with a friend. The witness saw the pilot start the engine about 1530, but did not see the pilot depart. 


The accident site was located about 8 miles southwest of TX31 and about 4 miles south of expected route of flight. The main wreckage came to rest in an area of mostly flat terrain with mesquite trees and shrubs. The propeller was found embedded in the west side of a large dirt pile, which was next to a small open-pit mine. The debris field and main wreckage were located to the east of the dirt pile. The debris field was about 100 yards long. 


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

========

The wreckage of a small single-engine aircraft was found Friday afternoon, and while the Federal Aviation Administration couldn’t confirm the identity of the pilot, Midland County Sheriff Gary Painter said it was former Midland County Sheriff Dallas Smith.

The aircraft -- carrying just the pilot -- was reported missing Friday, according to the FAA. The aircraft was reportedly on a flight from Midland Airpark to Big Spring on Thursday.


“Somewhere along the way, we don’t know when or exactly what happened, the aircraft crashed,” according to FAA spokesperson Lynn Lunsford.

Painter told the Reporter-Telegram that Smith was the pilot and did not survive the crash.

“He was flying a single-engine aircraft to be looked at by a rancher in Glasscock County and failed to arrive and failed to contact his wife,” Painter said in an email.

A Department of Public Safety helicopter found the wreckage in a caliche pit about 15 miles south of Garden City with the body of Smith, Painter said.

The tail number of the plane was 4751Z, according to officials.  

Source:   http://www.mrt.com

GLASSCOCK COUNTY, TX (KWES) -  Former Midland County Sheriff Dallas Smith was found dead on Friday following a plane crash in Glasscock County.

Midland County Sheriff Gary Painter said Smith's body was found with the wreckage around 3:30 p.m. on Friday.

It was found in a caliche pit about 15 miles south of Garden City.

Painter tells NewsWest 9 that Smith flew out on Thursday in a single engine plane.

He was flying to a ranch in Glasscock County that he was looking to purchase.

Authorities started looking for Smith after his family couldn't reach him.

The FAA and NTSB will be going to the crash site to investigate.

Smith was the Sheriff of Midland County from 1977 to 1984.

Source:  http://www.newswest9.com

GLASSCOCK COUNTY- Former Midland County Sheriff Dallas Smith's body was found after a plane he was flying crashed 11 miles north of highway 158 in Glasscock County Friday.

Preliminary information from the Federal Aviation Administration confirms it was a single-engine Piper PA-22 which was reported missing Friday by a friend or relative.

Midland County Sheriff Gary Painter tells CBS 7 that Smith was flying the single engine plane and disappeared.

According to the FAA, the aircraft departed the MIdland Airpark Thursday with Big Spring as its destination.

"FAA investigators are on their way to the crash site, and the National Transportation Safety Board has been notified. The NTSB will be in charge of the investigation," said FAA Spokesperson Lynn Lunsford.

Aircraft was sent up to search for him and late Friday the wreckage was found in Glasscock County.

Smith was Sheriff in Midland County from 1977 though 1984.

"This is a very sad thing. He brought the SO into the 20th century. He modernized it and began an era of progressiveness in the county," said one viewer on Facebook.

He also worked for the Department of Public Safety.

Glassock County Sheriff Keith Burnett told CBS 7 that Smith's body has been sent to Lubbock for an autopsy.

The aircraft tail number is N4751Z. According to FAA data obtained by CBS7, the plane was just registered in December and its registration status is still pending.

Original article can be found here: http://www.cbs7.com

Details were released on a small plane crash that claimed the life of former Midland County Sheriff Dallas Smith. The crash occurred on the afternoon of Jan. 14 near Garden City after Smith had departed Midland Airpark en route to Big Spring.

An employee of the pilot told investigators that Smith intended to fly from Midland Airpark to Edwards Lucian Wells Ranch Airport in Big Spring to show the airplane to a friend, according to the National Transportation Safety Board’s preliminary review.

The report also states that Smith was flying the plane, a Piper PA22-108, without proper registration and against federal regulations.

“I think that this aircraft may have been sold, he may have recently bought it and he had either not filed the new registration forms, or they were in the process,” said Federal Aviation Administration spokesman Lynn Lunsford.

The FAA requires aircraft to be registered every three years.

The crash site was about eight miles southwest of the Lucian Wells airport and about four miles south of the expected route of flight, according to the NTSB report.

“The main wreckage came to rest in an area of mostly flat terrain with mesquite trees and shrubs. The propeller was found embedded in the west side of a large dirt pile, which was next to a small open-pit mine. … The debris field was about 100 yards long,” according to the report.

No other details on the cause of the crash have been released.


http://www.mrt.com

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