20160516003369A

On the evening of Monday 5/16/16, Mr. Lu chen was the pilot in command of N6540N. Mr chen had departed rome, new york (krme) on VFR flight for an unknown destination (which may later be detrmined based on the lab results from an on board GPS unit found on N6450N). Prior to departure on 5/16/16, it was confirmed that Mr. Chen (based on a fuel slip provided by the millionaire fixed base operator) purchased 25 gallons of fuel although the total fuel onboard N6450N could not be confirmed. At the time of departure, the control tower at krme was closed and no contact with local rome air traffic control (ATC) could be initiated. On departure, contact with any ATC facility has not been verified, however, N6450N proceeded in a southerly direction and reached a cruise altitude of approximately 5500' (per a radar track provided by the NTSB). In the vicinity of the hugenot VOR (huo), the N6450N began a constant descent from 5500' and eventually impacted a wooded area approximately 10 miles to the north north east of the susssex airport (kfwn).

On Thursday 5/19/16, the allentown flight standards district office (FSDO) was notified that the civil air patrol had located N6450N in the above described location. On site, the NJ state police confirmed the identity of the pilot as being Mr. Lu chen who was determined to be fatallay injured during the impact. The body of the pilot had been removed prior to faa/ntsb arrrival. At approximately 1430 local time, inspectors gilbert/sanford had dispatched and arrived on the accident site of N6450N by 1600 local time. Approximately 30 minutes later, bob gretz from the NTSB had also arrived on site. FAA investigation had revealed the following facts:

The aircraft had sustained substantial damage as a result of the impact. The aircraft came to rest inverted and largely intact on a westerly heading in a heavily wooded area. Both wings failed at all attach points, stacked right side up beneath inverted fuselage. Both wings sustained heavy leading edge damage. All aerodynamic control surfaces accounted for in the immediate vicinity of the fuselage except the left elevator(a thorough debris field survey was not conducted at due to time constraints). Both horizontal stabilizers sustained leading edge damage, approximately half of the outboard sections are missing. The vertical stabilizer sustained minor damage and the rudder is intact. The three blade constant speed propeller and one undamaged blade and two blades bent aft midspan, and there is no apparent leading edge damage to any prop blade. The engine could not be evaluated do to wreckage condition and orientation. The non-vernier throttle control was found approximately one third open, vernier propeller control full forward, vernier mixture control full aft, landing gear selector on the upper side of the neutral stop, magneto switch on left, and fuel valve on left. Engine and flight control continuity could not be evaluated. Onboard fuel quantity and condition could not be determined. There was no odor of fuel at the crash scene, no dead vegetation, no post-crash fire. Debris field is approximately 200 feet long extending from initial tree line impact in a southwesterly direction to the wreckage site.