20010711017149A

(-23) July 11, 2001, approx time 0020. Just prior to hearing crash aircraft was reported to be flying low. Aircraft was found by construction worker approx 0700 07/11/2001. Aircraft crashed in field and slid into trees. Left wing was torn off on impact with ground. Aircraft was moved form original position, after photographs were taken, to remove body. Sheriffs deputy found partial bottle of clear liquid, a bottle labled vodka, IN aircraft . No fuel was found in aircraft fuel tanks, lines or carburetor. No sign of fuel was found on the ground in the area around the aircraft. (.19) on July 11, 2001, at 0015 eastern standard time, a Piper PA-28-180, N8955J, operated by indy aero, inc., sustained substantial damage when it impacted trees during a forced landing near west lafayette, Indiana. The private pilot received fatal injuries. Witnesses reported hearing the airplane flying at a low altitude when the engine quit. The 14 CFR part 91 personal flight had departed mount comfort airport (mqj), greenfield, Indiana, at approximately 2115, July 10, 2001. The airplane was not on a flight plan and no record of a weather brief was reported. The destination airport is u nknown. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. A witness reported the pilot had arrived at the Mt. Comfort airport about 2105. N8955J was observed flying in the local traffic pattern. At least one touch and go was observed and then the airplane was observed and then the airplane was observed doing a low approach before departing the pattern. A hand-held aviation garmin GPS iii was found in the "on" position at the site of the accident. The recorded track data indicated N8955J flew north from the Mt. Comfort area to wabash, Indiana. It then proceeded east to the logansport, Indiana, area, before turning southeast toward lafayette, Indiana. The track data indicated about 2 hours and 18 minutes elapsed during the portion of the flight recorded by the GPS.