The National Transportation Safety Board traveled to the scene of this accident.
Additional Participating Entities:
Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Charlotte, North Carolina
Piper Aircraft; Vero Beach, Florida
Lycoming Engines; Williamsport, Pennsylvania
Location: Wadesboro, NC
Accident Number: ERA21FA333
Date & Time: August 20, 2021, 10:13 Local
Registration: N8262P
Aircraft: Piper PA24
Injuries: 2 Fatal
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General aviation - Personal
On August 20, 2021, about 1013 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-24-250, N8262P, was destroyed when it was involved in an accident near Wadesboro, North Carolina. The pilot and passenger were fatally injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight.
According to the previous owner of the airplane, he had purchased the airplane as a restoration project about 3 years prior to the accident but was unable to complete the restoration. He sold the airplane on August 4, 2021, to the pilot, who also held and airframe and powerplant certificate with inspection authorization. At the time of the accident, the airplane had not been flown for about 15 years. The pilot drove from Florida to Darr Field Airport (NC03), High Point, North Carolina, where the airplane was based. He planned to complete repairs, perform an annual inspection, and fly the airplane to LaBelle Municipal Airport (X14), LaBelle, Florida. The repairs included replacing hoses, rebuilding a jammed fuel selector valve, repairing a corroded fuel line, and removing and checking one magneto. On the day of the accident, the airplane flew from NC03 to Anson County Airport (AFP), Wadesboro, North Carolina uneventfully.
The pilot purchased 51 gallons of fuel at AFP and departed for X14. Witnesses reported that during startup, the engine sputtered and backfired. Shortly after takeoff from runway 34, the engine sputtered and backfired again. The airplane then turned left and descended nose down into wooded terrain, where a postcrash fire ensued.
The wreckage came to rest inverted, oriented east, about 1/2 mile north-northwest of the runway 34 departure end. The cockpit and cabin were partially consumed by fire. The throttle, mixture and propeller levers were observed in the full forward position. The magnetos were selected to both and the electric fuel pump switch was in the on position. The fuel selector valve was separated, exhibited thermal damage and was positioned to the left main fuel tank.
Measurement of the flap actuator jackscrew corresponded to the flaps retracted setting and measurement of the landing gear actuator cable corresponded to the landing gear retracted position. Flight control continuity was established from the cockpit area through cable impact and recovery separations to their respective flight control surfaces (ailerons, rudder, stabilator, and stabilator trim.)
The engine came to rest inverted. One propeller blade remained attached to the propeller hub and the other blade had separated and was located underneath the engine. Both blades exhibited tip curling and the attached blade exhibited leading edge damage. The engine sustained front impact damage and the crankshaft could only be rotated about 90° by hand. Camshaft and crankshaft continuity were confirmed to the rear accessory section of the engine. Holes were drilled into the top of the engine crankcase to facilitate borescope examination. Additionally, fire consumed the oil sump and a portion of the lower crankcase, which allowed visual and borescope examination from the underside of the engine. Visual and borescope examination of the cylinders, and crankcase did not reveal any preimpact mechanical malfunctions.
The carburetor was impact separated from the engine and sustained thermal damage. Disassembly of the carburetor revealed the two floats present at the bottom of the bowl and all seals destroyed. The carburetor fuel inlet screen was absent of debris. The engine driven fuel pump remained attached to the engine and was destroyed. All fuel and oil hoses were destroyed by fire. Both magnetos remained attached to the engine and were thermally damaged. The right magneto was rotated by hand, but no spark was produced. The left magneto could not be rotated by hand.
Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information
Aircraft Make: Piper
Registration: N8262P
Model/Series: PA24 250
Aircraft Category: Airplane
Amateur Built: No
Operator: On file
Operating Certificate(s) Held: None
Operator Designator Code:
Meteorological Information and Flight Plan
Conditions at Accident Site: VMC
Condition of Light: Day
Observation Facility, Elevation: AFP,299 ft msl
Observation Time: 10:15 Local
Distance from Accident Site: 1 Nautical Miles
Temperature/Dew Point: 28°C /23°C
Lowest Cloud Condition: Clear
Wind Speed/Gusts, Direction: 3 knots / , 290°
Lowest Ceiling: None
Visibility: 10 miles
Altimeter Setting: 29.95 inches Hg
Type of Flight Plan Filed: None
Departure Point: Wadesboro, NC
Destination: LaBelle, FL (X14)
Wreckage and Impact Information
Crew Injuries: 1 Fatal
Aircraft Damage: Destroyed
Passenger Injuries: 1 Fatal
Aircraft Fire: On-ground
Ground Injuries:
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 2 Fatal
Latitude, Longitude: 35.030833,-80.089167
Those who may have information that might be relevant to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigation may contact them by email witness@ntsb.gov, and any friends and family who want to contact investigators about the accident should email assistance@ntsb.gov. You can also call the NTSB Response Operations Center at 844-373-9922 or 202-314-6290.
John David Styles
Fort Myers, Florida
July 3, 1950 - August 20, 2021
~
John David Styles, age 71, of Port Charlotte, passed away August 20, 2021 in North Carolina. He was born July 3, 1950. He was a Veteran of the United States Army. He was a pilot, and inspected and rebuilt all types of aircraft. Survivors include his wife: Larissa Styles, grandson Lance Hellmans, 4 brothers and 3 sisters. Graveside services will be held Tuesday, August 31, 2021 at 10:00 am at Alva Cemetery, Alva with Pastor Chris Mason officiating.
WADESBORO — A plane crashed after taking off from the Anson County Airport on Friday, claiming the lives of the pilot and a passenger.
The deceased have since been identified. They are John Styles, 71, of Port Charlotte, Florida and Jason Hodson, 42, of Punta Gorda, Florida, according to Trooper Ray Pierce with the Highway Patrol. The Federal Aviation Administration did not respond to requests for comment about the cause of the crash on Monday.
Pierce added Monday that the investigation revealed that the two men had travelled north North Carolina and took off from High Point before landing in Anson County.
Airport Manager Rex Edwards said plane took off sometime around 10 a.m. Friday and crashed shortly after takeoff, making impact in a wooded area about a mile north of the airport near Valley Protein.
Edwards said he believes, based on a brief conversation with the two men, that the pair had stopped into Anson County Airport to refuel on their way to Florida.
“They didn’t mention any problems [with the plane] when they were coming in to land,” Edwards said.
An airport employee witnessed the crash, and told Edwards it looked like they attempted to turn back around towards the airport before losing control. The employee then alerted 9-1-1, and the FAA arrived on the scene to investigate the cause of the crash. The National Transportation Safety Board is also investigating the incident.
Pierce said the plane “burst into flames” upon impact, and smoke was visible over the trees shortly after they descended.
As a safety precaution, the airport has halted sales of fuel until its fuel distributor determines whether there is an issue with the fuel, according to Edwards. The FAA may look into the airport’s fuel if they suspect it was related to the crash, but Edwards said there “shouldn’t be any issue” and that there hasn’t been any concern over the quality of the fuel in the past.
The airport is functioning normally, apart from the shut down of fuel sales.
The agencies who responded to the scene were as follows: Anson County Emergency Mangement, Wadesboro Fire Department, Anson Rescue Squad, Anson County EMS, Lilesville Fire Department, Ansonville Fire Department, Morven Fire Department, Anson County Airport, Anson County Sheriff’s Office, NCSHP, Anson County 911, NC Forestry and NCDOT.
Anson County Emergency Services
We had a small aircraft crash in a wooded area this morning just north of Wadesboro, at approximately 10:15. The aircraft caught fire and completely burnt. There were no survivors. There will be no more information released at this time pending notification of next of kin. FAA and NTSB are enroute to investigate. Thanks to the responding department’s at the scene and those covering for the department’s that are on scene. Anson County Emergency Management, Wadesboro Fire Department, Anson Rescue Squad, Anson County EMS, Lilesville Fire Department, Ansonville Fire Department, Morven Fire Department, Anson County Airport, Anson County Sheriff’s Office, NCSHP, Anson County 911, NC Forestry and NCDOT.
