20210420005429A

Piper PA-28RT-201T, N4303G departed pearland regional airport (lvj) near houston Texas for murray-calloway co. airport (cey) near murray Kentucky at approximately 5:25 pm CDT. The final radar position was recorded at 2052 CDT, and the position was nearly over the accident site. Total flight time was 3 hours and 32 minutes.

At 0205Z, 2105 CDT an alert notice (alnot) was issued by memphis air route traffic control center (zme) for N4303G. A search was conducted by haywood county sheriff and county emergency response team.

According to FAA airman records, the pilot held a student pilot certificate. He was issued a 3rd class medical certificate on January 14, 2019, which expired in January 2021.

Factual timeline (zulu) ? N4303G communication with memphis center ?

1:50:32 ? Contacted mem center ? Requested lower altitude approved ? Wx info given

1:52:12 ? Additional weather info give to PIC ? Dyersburg was down to 800?. Ctr commented: ?you may want to head east to stay VFR?

1:52:28 ? ?N4303G - afirm thank you? ? End

1:53:04 ? Brief mayday ? No identification ? No further transmissions from N4303G

When overlaying the heading, altitude and time, it appears that the PIC lost spatial orientation and began a slow clockwise spiral during the conversation with memphis center. By the end of all conversations at 1:52:28 the aircraft had completed a 270 degree clockwise turn. The aircraft continued to increase speed with tighter spirals until impacting the ground around 1:53.05.

The wreckage was found the following morning in a swampy wooded area in and above the banks of cypress creek. FAA inspectors from the memphis flight standards (FSDO) were dispatched to the accident location.

Based on the debris field the final direction of flight was in a north easterly direction in a steep bank. Sections of both wings, empennage, fuselage, cockpit and human remains were found in a pile near the center of the creek and imbedded in the mud below the surface of the water. The county emergency rescue team brought a large track loader and removed the wreckage to gain access to the victims while removing the bulk of the debris.

First impact appears to be the left wing inboard section and main landing gear separating from the fuselage after hitting a tree 100 feet west of the main wreckage. Both main gear struts and wheel assemblies were sheared from the aircraft and located above the creek near the bank and 50 ft. west of the main wreckage. Left and right main gear came to rest within 10 feet of each other above the creek and in stand of large trees. The outboard section of the left wing including the left gear strut attached point, was found in the center of the creek 100FT west of the main accident location. The creek bank has several large trees that could account for the wing and gear shearing on the final 100FT descent, but no conclusive scars were identified.

The debris field was in a 100FT line with a large percentage on the wreckage in a single pile near the center of cypress creek. All four corners were identified when the investigation continued at the hangar inspection location.

The engine was buried under 3 feet of mud and removed for further investigation. The propeller damage was minimal. 2 of the blades show no damage or curl suggesting the engine was not under power at final impact. The turbo was found essentially intact with minor blade bending adding additional evidence that the engine may not have been making power at impact.