CHI04FA069

The aircraft was destroyed during an in-flight collision with terrain following a loss of control during cruise. A witness who resided approximately one mile northwest of the accident site reported that he was awakened from a "deep sleep" to the sound of an airplane engine. He stated that he looked out the window and saw the aircraft's lights at what appeared to be "tree top height" about 1/4 to 1/2 mile to the east-southeast. He went outside but at that point the aircraft was out of site. He heard no sound at all at that time. He recalled that it was foggy. As it got light that morning, he noted that there was a low cloud layer. The accident site was located in an uninhabited wetlands conservation area on a 150-foot wide by 10-foot high hill, situated between a small river and a marsh area. Initial impact was on the north side of the hill. The main wreckage came to rest on the opposite side of the hill, about 120 feet from the initial impact. A detailed post-accident examination of the aircraft was conducted. No evidence consistent with a pre-impact failure or malfunction was observed. Weather reporting in the vicinity of the accident site was limited. The departure airport recorded visibilities of one statute mile (sm) at the approximate time of departure. Airports in the vicinity of Kansas City, about 50 miles north and northwest of the accident site, recorded instrument meteorological conditions (IMC), with visibilities of 1/4 sm in fog and vertical visibilities of 100 feet. Airports south of the route of flight reported visual meteorological conditions (VMC). Satellite imagery depicted an area of low stratus and fog over the region, with cloud tops of approximately 5,000 feet msl. The non-instrument rated pilot contacted a Flight Service Station and obtained a pre-flight weather briefing. The briefer advised the pilot that an advisory for instrument flight rules (IFR) conditions was in effect for his route of flight and that visual flight rules (VFR) flight was not recommended. The briefer provided weather conditions at Emporia, 47 miles northwest of the departure airport, as overcast clouds at 200 feet agl and 3/4 sm visibility in mist. Conditions at Chanute, 13 miles south of the departure airport, were clear below 12,000 feet agl and 6 miles visibility in mist. The briefer commented on the limited weather reporting in the area, stating: "The problem in that area where you are there is very limited weather reporting . . . except for Emporia and Chanute and . . . they're just drastically different." The pilot replied: "Well we're pretty close to Chanute so I think I'll be OK." The area forecast in effect at the time of the accident was for broken ceilings at 1,000 feet agl and cloud tops at 5,000 feet mean sea level (msl) over the eastern one-third of Kansas. The southwest quarter of Missouri was forecast to have overcast ceilings at 5,000 feet agl. The northwest quarter of Missouri was forecast for overcast ceilings at 1,000 feet agl and cloud tops to 4,000 feet msl. Civil twilight began at 0641 and sunrise was at 0708. Radar track data depicted the accident aircraft proceeding from a point about 1-1/2 miles east of the departure airport, on an east-northeast course at a maximum altitude of 5,200 feet msl. Final radar contact was at 4,900 feet msl, about 1/2 mile northwest of the accident site. In the 1-1/2 minutes immediately prior to the final radar data point, the aircraft entered a marked right turn. The radar track depicted was consistent with a gradually decreasing turn radius. The lowest expected radar coverage in the vicinity of the accident site was 3,800 feet msl. The pilot's total logged flight time was 158.3 hours, including 11.1 hours simulated instrument and 0.2 hours actual instrument flight time.

History of flight

On February 17, 2004, at 0545 central standard time, a Piper PA-28-180, N7876W, piloted by a private pilot, was destroyed during an in-flight collision with terrain approximately 3 miles southeast of Rich Hill, Missouri. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed at the accident site. The flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91 without a flight plan. The pilot and passenger sustained fatal injuries. The flight departed the Allen County Airport (K88), Iola, Kansas, approximately 0445 with an intended destination of Spirit of St. Louis Airport (SUS), St. Charles, Missouri.

The accident pilot contacted the Wichita Automated Flight Service Station (AFSS) at 0407 on the morning of the accident flight. He requested a weather briefing for a visual flight rules (VFR) flight from K88 to SUS and stated that he would be leaving in 45 minutes. The pilot did not file a flight plan and no record of further contact with the accident pilot or aircraft was located.

A witness located approximately five miles northeast of K88 reported that she was on her porch having coffee about 0445 that morning. She stated she heard an airplane fly, what seemed to be, directly over her house. She noted that she went off the porch in an effort to see it, but it was not visible due to the dense fog. She recalled that it was still completely dark at that time. She added that it was "so unbelievably foggy" that she could not see the house across the street. She estimated that distance to be about 100 feet.

A second witness who resided approximately one mile northwest of the accident site reported that he was awakened from a "deep sleep" to the sound of an airplane engine. He described it as similar to that of a model airplane but "magnified one-thousand times." He noted the time as 0544 according to his bedside clock.

This witness stated that he got out of bed and looked out of the window. He reported seeing the aircraft's lights at what appeared to be "tree top height" about 1/4 to 1/2 mile to the east-southeast. He went outside but at that point the aircraft was out of site. He heard no sound at all at that time.

He recalled that it was foggy, however, he was not sure of the visibility. He commented that there was a thin layer of ice on his vehicle's windshield as well. As it got light that morning, he noted that there was a low cloud layer.

Approximately 0830, this witness decided to drive to the location he had last seen the airplane's lights. He subsequently located the accident site in a conservation area. He stated he encountered a sheriff's deputy in the area and reported the location of the aircraft.

Personnel information

The pilot held a private pilot certificate with an airplane-single engine land rating issued by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) on March 7, 2003. He held a third class airman medical certificate issued on October 15, 2002. There were no limitations associated with his medical certificate.

A copy of the pilot's logbook was reviewed. His total logged flight time was 158.3 hours and included 119.0 hours pilot-in-command, 11.1 hours simulated instrument, and 0.2 hours actual instrument flight time. The logbook listed 31.2 hours of night and 68.1 hours of cross-country flight time. He had logged 24.4 hours within the previous 90 days and 4.0 hours within the previous 30 days.

The most recent entry was dated January 22, 2004, and was in the accident aircraft. The pilot had logged 54.9 hours in the accident aircraft. This also comprised his total flight time in PA-28 series aircraft. His initial flight in the accident aircraft was on June 27, 2003.

Aircraft information

The accident aircraft was a 1968 Piper PA-28-180 Cherokee (serial number 28-1900). It was a four-place, single-engine, low wing airplane. It was powered by a Lycoming O-360-A3A reciprocating engine (serial number L-7319-36A), installed in a carbureted, normally aspirated configuration.

The airplane was issued a Certificate of Aircraft Registration in the accident pilot's name on August 11, 2003. A temporary Aircraft Registration Application, dated June 27, 2003, listing the accident pilot as the applicant and bearing the pilot's signature, was found in the aircraft.

According to the aircraft logbooks, an annual inspection had been completed on May 7, 2003, at a tachometer time of 4227.71 hours. A pitot-static system inspection was completed on June 5, 2003.

Meteorological information

Weather reporting services in the immediate vicinity of the accident site were not available. The departure airport, K88, located 49 miles west of the accident site, was the closest weather reporting facility. The visibility recorded at 0505 at K88 was 1 statute mile (sm). The temperature and dew point were -4 degrees Celsius and -6 degrees Celsius, respectively. Sky/cloud conditions were not recorded. At 0545, the recorded visibility was 1 sm.

Airports in the vicinity of Kansas City, about 50 miles north and northwest of the accident site, recorded instrument meteorological conditions (IMC) prior to and at the time of the accident. Lee's Summit Municipal Airport (LXT), New Century Air Center (IXD) and Johnson County Executive Airport (OJC), at 0453, all recorded visibilities of 1/4 sm in fog and vertical visibilities of 100 feet. At 0553, LXT recorded 3/4 sm in mist and 100 feet vertical visibility. IXD and OJC recorded 1/4 sm in freezing fog and 100 foot vertical visibility.

Whiteman Air Force Base (SZL), located approximately 54 miles northeast of the accident site, at 0455 and at 0555, recorded visibility at 1 sm in mist, a broken ceiling at 400 feet agl and overcast clouds at 1,500 feet agl. Both the temperature and dew point were -1 degree Celsius at each recording time.

Airports south of the route of flight reported visual meteorological conditions (VMC) prior to and at the time of the accident. Joplin Regional Airport (JLN), located about 55 miles south of the accident site, at 0453, recorded: 7 sm visibility, few clouds at 4,900 feet agl, and an overcast ceiling at 7,000 feet agl.

At 0553, JLN recorded weather conditions were: 6 sm visibility in mist, a broken ceiling at 4,600 feet agl, and overcast clouds at 5,500 feet agl.

The area forecast in effect at the time of the accident was for broken ceilings at 1,000 feet agl and cloud tops at 5,000 feet mean sea level (msl) over the eastern one-third of Kansas, with visibilities at 3 sm in mist. The southwest quarter of Missouri was forecast to have overcast ceilings at 5,000 feet agl and visibilities at 3 sm to 5 sm in mist. The northwest quarter of Missouri was forecast for overcast ceilings at 1,000 feet agl and cloud tops to 4,000 feet msl, with visibilities at 3 sm in mist.

Satellite data from the Geostationary Operations Environmental Satellite number 12 (GOES-12) was reviewed. Satellite imagery taken at 0532 depicted an area of low stratus and fog over the region, which included the departure airport and the accident site. The radiative temperature observed over the accident site was consistent with cloud tops of approximately 5,000 feet msl.

AIRMET Sierra (update 2) was issued at 0245. The AIRMET warned of IFR conditions west-northwest of a line from Dubuque, Iowa, to a point 30 miles east of Oswego, Kansas, and north of a line from 30 miles east of Oswego, Kansas, to Vance Air Force Base, Oklahoma. The route of flight and accident site were within the region covered by the AIRMET.

According to U.S. Naval Observatory data, civil twilight began at 0641 in the vicinity of Rich Hill, Missouri, on the morning of the accident. Sunrise was at 0708. Moonrise was at 0537.

The pilot received a pre-flight weather briefing from Wichita AFSS at 0407. The briefer advised the pilot that VFR flight was not recommended and that an advisory for IFR conditions was in effect for the eastern two-thirds of Kansas and