What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
On July 22, 2022, around 1845 local/central time, Piper PA-28-235, privacy data omitted was destroyed shortly after takeoff, departing from Elm Creek Airpark in Seguin, Texas. The pilot, passenger, and pet dog were fatally injured in the part 91 flight.
According to the landowner of the accident site, the post-crash fire consumed approximately 4-5 acres.
The known plan was to depart from elm Creek and stop at natchitoches, Louisiana and arrive at jonesville, Louisiana.
The aircraft departed on runway 14 at elm Creek and flew approximately a 1/4 mile before impacting trees.
No maintance records or other documentation were located, however, several documents were found destroyed at the accident site. An interview with the aircraft mechanic determined the documents were most likely on board as this was a habit with the pilot. Several local airports were contacted to inquire about fuel and none were able to provide any information. The interview with the mechanic stressed the fact that the aircraft most likely had mogas as part of the fuel.
Several witnesses stated the aircraft was heavily loaded with luggage and cargo, possible with full fuel or mostly full. The aircraft was mostly consumed by the fire. It was noted that density altitude was also fairly high based on greater than 100 degree outdoor temperature.
All major structural components were located at the accident site. The examination of the wreckage was completed on July 24, 2022. However, the NTSB and oem may return to examine the engine for traces of mogas or contamination.
As the FAA filed it
ON JULY 22, 2022, AROUND 1845 LOCAL/CENTRAL TIME, PIPER PA-28-235, ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ WAS DESTROYED SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF, DEPARTING FROM ELM CREEK AIRPARK IN SEGUIN, TEXAS. THE PILOT, PASSENGER, AND PET DOG WERE FATALLY INJURED IN THE PART 91 FLIGHT.
ACCORDING TO THE LANDOWNER OF THE ACCIDENT SITE, THE POST-CRASH FIRE CONSUMED APPROXIMATELY 4-5 ACRES.
THE KNOWN PLAN WAS TO DEPART FROM ELM CREEK AND STOP AT NATCHITOCHES, LOUISIANA AND ARRIVE AT JONESVILLE, LOUISIANA.
THE AIRCRAFT DEPARTED ON RUNWAY 14 AT ELM CREEK AND FLEW APPROXIMATELY A 1/4 MILE BEFORE IMPACTING TREES.
NO MAINTANCE RECORDS OR OTHER DOCUMENTATION WERE LOCATED, HOWEVER, SEVERAL DOCUMENTS WERE FOUND DESTROYED AT THE ACCIDENT SITE. AN INTERVIEW WITH THE AIRCRAFT MECHANIC DETERMINED THE DOCUMENTS WERE MOST LIKELY ON BOARD AS THIS WAS A HABIT WITH THE PILOT. SEVERAL LOCAL AIRPORTS WERE CONTACTED TO INQUIRE ABOUT FUEL AND NONE WERE ABLE TO PROVIDE ANY INFORMATION. THE INTERVIEW WITH THE MECHANIC STRESSED THE FACT THAT THE AIRCRAFT MOST LIKELY HAD MOGAS AS PART OF THE FUEL.
SEVERAL WITNESSES STATED THE AIRCRAFT WAS HEAVILY LOADED WITH LUGGAGE AND CARGO, POSSIBLE WITH FULL FUEL OR MOSTLY FULL. THE AIRCRAFT WAS MOSTLY CONSUMED BY THE FIRE. IT WAS NOTED THAT DENSITY ALTITUDE WAS ALSO FAIRLY HIGH BASED ON GREATER THAN 100 DEGREE OUTDOOR TEMPERATURE.
ALL MAJOR STRUCTURAL COMPONENTS WERE LOCATED AT THE ACCIDENT SITE. THE EXAMINATION OF THE WRECKAGE WAS COMPLETED ON JULY 24, 2022. HOWEVER, THE NTSB AND OEM MAY RETURN TO EXAMINE THE ENGINE FOR TRACES OF MOGAS OR CONTAMINATION.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.
Other reports on N8542W · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.