Location: Walterboro, South Carolina
Accident Number: ERA22FA026
Date and Time: October 22, 2021, 15:57 Local
Registration: N1652H
Aircraft: Piper PA-32R-300
Injuries: 1 Fatal, 1 Serious
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General aviation - Personal
On October 22, 2021, about 1557 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-32R-300, N1652H, was destroyed when it was involved in an accident near Walterboro, South Carolina. The pilot was seriously injured, and the passenger was fatally injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight.
The airplane departed Shannon Airport (EZF), Fredericksburg, Virginia, about 1256, destined for Miami Executive Airport (TMB), Miami, Florida. Prior to departure, the pilot topped-off the airplane’s fuel tanks (98 gallons total capacity) by adding 78.81 gallons of 100LL aviation gasoline.
The flight was uneventful, until about 2 hours and 53 minutes into the flight when the airplane was in cruise at 6,000 ft above mean sea level (msl) and the pilot advised air traffic control that he wanted to divert to Lowcountry Regional Airport (RBW), Walterboro, South Carolina for fuel, and then resume his instrument flight rules flight plan to TMB.
The air traffic controller cleared the pilot to fly direct to RBW. The pilot requested the visual approach to runway 23. The air traffic controller then instructed the pilot to maintain 1,600 ft msl, and subsequently instructed him to fly heading 190°. The airplane was approximately 9 miles north of RBW when it began to descend without a clearance. The pilot then declared an emergency due to a “lagging engine” to which the air traffic controller advised that RBW was at “one o’clock and seven miles,” and to “maintain present heading and altitude.” There was no further communication with the pilot. The airplane descended while in a left turn and was last observed by air traffic control at an altitude of 100 ft msl.
Witnesses reported an engine sound that they described as an all-terrain vehicle type engine. They observed a white airplane with green stripes in a left turn toward an open field next to their house. They then heard a loud “pop” from the airplane and the engine noise ceased.
Examination of the accident site revealed that the airplane initially contacted an approximately 70-ft-tall pine tree. A 100-yard-long debris path on a magnetic heading of about 070° was observed through a forested area descending on an approximate 20° flight path angle.
Examination of the airplane revealed that both wings and the right stabilator had separated from their mounting locations during the impact sequence with the trees. There was no evidence of pre-impact fire, and all damage was consistent with tree and terrain impact.
The fuselage was mostly consumed by a post-impact fire. The landing gear was in the down position, and the landing gear “dump” lever was stowed. The throttle, propeller, and mixture controls were in the full forward positions. The fuel selector valve was in the right fuel tank position. The wing flaps were up (0°). The left wing outboard and inboard fuel tanks were breached. The right wing outboard fuel tank was breached, but still contained residual fuel, and the right inboard fuel tank had separated from the wing. Both the left and right fuel filler caps remained attached.
Examination of the aluminum 3-bladed constant-speed propeller revealed that the propeller remained attached to the propeller flange, and no rotational deformation was present on the impact damaged spinner. Impact damage was noted to the propeller hub and all three blades. There was no leading-edge damage or chord-wise abrasions noted on the propeller blades.
Examination of the engine revealed that the engine remained attached to its mount which had partially separated from the fuselage. Both the engine and its mount exhibited impact and thermal damage. The exhaust system was impact damaged but remained attached to its respective cylinder attach points. No internal obstructions or deformations were noted in the exhaust system. The single drive, dual magneto, and the engine driven fuel pump were destroyed by fire. The engine crankshaft was rotated. Thumb compression and suction were attained, and crankshaft and camshaft continuity to the rear gears was observed. Oil was observed within the sump and the oil pump suction screen was clear of debris. One tooth was found to have fractured on the oil pump drive gear and its driving idler gear exhibited abrasions on several consecutive teeth. The fractured gear tooth was retrieved from the oil sump. The oil pump could not be rotated by hand.
The wreckage was retained for further examination.
Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information
Aircraft Make: Piper
Registration: N1652H
Model/Series: PA-32R-300
Aircraft Category: Airplane
Amateur Built:
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: KRBW,102 ft msl
Observation Time: 15:55 Local
Distance from Accident Site: 8 Nautical Miles
Temperature/Dew Point: 27°C /17°C
Lowest Cloud Condition: Scattered / 3900 ft AGL
Wind Speed/Gusts, Direction: 8 knots / , 260°
Lowest Ceiling:
Visibility: 10 miles
Altimeter Setting: 29.96 inches Hg
Type of Flight Plan Filed: IFR
Departure Point: Fredericksburg, VA (EZF)
Destination: Miami, FL (TMB)
Wreckage and Impact Information
Crew Injuries: 1 Serious
Aircraft Damage: Destroyed
Passenger Injuries: 1 Fatal
Aircraft Fire: On-ground
Ground Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 1 Fatal, 1 Serious
Latitude, Longitude: 33.0425,-80.598217