19990921031839A

(.19) On September 21, 1999, at 1640 central daylight time, a Piper PA-28-180, N8446W, piloted by the holder of a foreign certificate, was destroyed when it impacted level terrain approximately 0.25 miles west of the Fort Scott Municipal Airport, Fort Scott, Kansas following an aborted landing on runway 35 (4,400 feet by 72 feet, dry/asphalt). The pilot, who was a british citizen, was fatally injured. The flight was conducted under the provisions of 14 CFR part 91 and was not on a flight plan. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The point of origin and time of origin of the flight is unknown. In a written statement, a witness to the accident stated that, on final approach, the aircraft bounced 10 to 15 feet into the air at which time he heard the engine power increase. The aircraft then turned in a westerly direction at a steep angle of attack. The witness said that the aircraft was approximately 200 to 250 feet above the ground when "... It stalled [and] entered [a] 1/2 turn spin and collided with the ground. During a post accident examination of the aircraft wreckage, the flight control system continuity was verified from the control sur faces to the actuators. The engine was examined and valve train continuity was verified. All four cylinders exhibited "thumb" compression. Both magnetos produced a spark when rotated by hand. Fuel was found in the carburetor float bowl and the right wing fuel tank. The left wing fuel tank was ruptured. The fuel selector valve was positioned for the right fuel tank. The propeller blades exhibited chordwise scratching, "s" bending, and forward bending. No anomalies were detected with respect to the aircraft or aircraft systems. (.4) a witness stated that, on initial touchdown the aircraft bounced 10 to 15 feet into the air at which time he heard the engine power increase. The aircraft then turned in a westerly direction at a steep angle-of-attack. The witness said that the aircraft was approximately 200 to 250 feet above the ground when, '... It stalled [and] entered [a] 1/2 turn spin and collided with the ground.' The pilot was the holder of a foreign pilot certificate. He did not hold united states pilot or medical certificates. According to the pilot logbook, he had accumulated 53.5 hours of flight time on July 22, 1999. The logbook indicates that the pilot had 51.1 hours in Cessna 150/152 aircraft and 2.4 hours in Cessna 172 aircraft. There were no logbook entries after the July 22, 1999 entry. Documents found within the aircraft indicate that the pilot purchased the aircraft on September 17, 1999. No preexisting anomalies were detected with respect to the aircraft, engine or systems.