20180724017819A

On July 24, 2018, approximately 0530 eastern standard time, a Piper PA-32 airplane, N38523, sustained substantial damage and was destroyed during an impact with terrain about .25 miles northwest of runway 5-23 at lincoln county airport, Iron Station, NC. The airplane was operated by the pilot as a 14 code of federal regulations (CFR) part 91 under visual flight rules flight when the accident occurred. The private pilot and passenger were fatally injured. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed with the reported weather at 0600 local being 200 ft overcast with a half a mile visibility. No flight plan had been filed. The flight had departed from lincoln county regional airport (ipj) at an unknown time. Family members stated the flight was headed for oshkosh, WI. A local resident was awakened from sleep by the sound of a plane flying low over his house then heard a thud. He said he drove to the airport and looked up and down the runway for an aircraft and then looked around the field west of the runway and saw light reflecting off the tail of the aircraft from the airport rotating beacon and he immediately called 911. First responders discovered the pilot and passenger deceased at the scene. One toxicology box was provided to the medical examiner for the pilot

The initial ground scar was observable by disturbed vegetation, small impact hole and small wreckage fragments of clear plexi-glass.. The main wreckage came to rest in an upright position about 100 ft from the initial ground scar. There was no post crash fire but there was an odor at the scene that was consistent with the smell of 100LL aviation fuel. Airport fuel records show that the owner purchased 37.6 gallons of 100LL on July 20, 2018.

The aircraft maintenance logs and the pilots flight log book were found at the scene.

A review of the spas database shows that the aircraft sustained damage during a forced off airport landing in August 2017 after a completed engine failure.

The aircraft maintenance records showed that the last annual inspection had been signed off on July 20, 2018 and the aircraft had accumulated approximately 2.0 flight hours since the annual inspection. Maintenance records showed repairs to the left wing and stabilizer and engine maintenance records indicate that the engine was removed and overhauled after the incident in August 2017. The engine had approximately 4.8 hours time since overhaul.

The pilot had previously held a special issuance third class medical certificate, but it had expired on 6/30/2018. Cami reported that he did not have a current medical certificate and that the pilot was not operating under the basic med rule.

The pilot's flight logbook did not indicate any flights after 12/01/2017, but credit card receipts found at the scene showed that the pilot had payed for the rental of an aircraft on 07/10/2018 for 4.3 hours and 1/26/2018 for 4.2 hours. Airport employees also reported that the pilot had picked up the aircraft after maintenance in Georgia on 7/20/2018 and had flown it to ipj. Log book does not indicate any night flights or instrument training flights.

Representatives from the NTSB, Piper aircraft and Lycoming engines arrived on the scene to conduct a field investigation.

Initial field investigation did not show any mechanical irregularities that may have contributed to the accident

The NTSB released the wreckage to be recovered from scene.

Ref ptrs# 201803817