CHI06FA154

The airplane experienced an in-flight break-up during a visual approach to runway 01L. Radar data indicated the airplane crossed the flight path twice of a Boeing 737 that was landing on parallel runway 01R. The first time N292HH crossed the path of the Boeing 737 was about 1910:48 at an altitude of about 3,900 feet msl at an airspeed of 158 KCAS. The Boeing 737 had been at the same geographic point approximately 2-minutes and 9-seconds prior, at an altitude of about 5,500 feet msl. The second time N292HH crossed the flight path of the Boeing 737 was about 1911:25 at an altitude of about 3,300 feet msl at an airspeed of 183 KCAS. The Boeing 737 had been at the same geographic point approximately 1-minute 55-seconds prior at an altitude of 3,900 feet msl. The Boeing was on a north-northwesterly heading at the time and N292HH was on a northwesterly heading. After crossing the flight path N292HH continued to the west of the Boeing 737's path. The last radar contact with N292HH was at a point 0.32 miles west of the flight path of the Boeing 737. The last radar contact was at 1911:34 at an altitude of 3,128 feet msl with an airspeed of 183 KCAS. All of the wreckage was located in one open field. The left wing, both the left and right sides of the stabilator, along with portions of the right wing flap and aileron separated in-flight. According to the Pilot's Operating Handbook the never exceed speed (Vne) for N292HH was listed as being 189 KCAS. The handbook showed the maximum structural cruising speed as 165 KCAS. The design maneuvering speed (Va) was listed as being 132 KCAS at 3,600 pounds and 104 KCAS at 2,230 pounds. The inboard sections of the left and right sides of the stabilator along with the separated section of the left wing spar were sent to the NTSB Material Laboratory for examination where it was determined that all of the separations were as a result of overload. FAA Advisory Circular (AC) 90-23F addresses Aircraft Wake Turbulence. AC 90-23F states, "Flight tests have shown that the vortices from larger (transport category) aircraft sink at a rate of several hundred feet per minute, slowing their descent and diminishing in strength with time and distance behind the generating aircraft. Pilots should fly at or above the preceding aircraft's flight path, altering course as necessary to avoid the area behind and below the generating aircraft." AC 90-23F also states, "WHETHER OR NOT A WARNING OR INFORMATION HAS BEEN GIVEN, HOWEVER, THE PILOT IS EXPECTED TO ADJUST AIRCRAFT OPERATIONS AND FLIGHT PATH AS NECESSARY TO PRECLUDE SERIOUS WAKE ENCOUNTERS." According to the hourly weather observations taken prior to and after the accident the winds were from the northeast between 9 and 10 knots.

History of flight

On June 12, 2006, at 1911 central daylight time, a Piper PA-32R-301T, N292HH, experienced an in-flight break-up during a visual approach to runway 01L at the Kansas City International Airport (MCI), Kansas City, Missouri. The pilot and pilot-rated passenger were fatally injured. The airplane was destroyed. The 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight was operating in visual meteorological conditions and an instrument flight rules (IFR) flight plan had been filed. The flight originated from the Grand Glaize Airport, (K15), Osage Beach, Missouri, at approximately 1825.

According to family members, the pilot and passenger departed K15 and were flying to MCI to pick up additional passengers with the intention of returning to K15.

Records indicate N282HH was fueled with a total of 30 gallons prior to its departure from K15. Personnel at K15 reported the pilot requested that 15 gallons of fuel be added to each wing. The person who fueled the airplane stated that he did not know how much fuel was in each wing, but that the 15 gallons did not top off the fuel tanks.

At 1745, the pilot contacted the Wichita, Kansas, Flight Service Station to file an IFR flight plan with a departure time of 1830 cdt. The pilot stated he was planning on an en route time of 45 minutes with 3 hours of fuel onboard.

At 1825, N292HH contacted Mizzu Approach Control and requested an IFR clearance to MCI.

At 1827, N292HH was identified on radar and issued a climb to an altitude of 7,000 feet.

At 1830, N292HH was issued a climb to 8,000 feet and was handed off to Kansas City Approach Control.

At 1857, N292HH was told to expect the instrument landing system (ILS) approach to runway 01L. The pilot was also issued the current wind condition, being 040 degrees at 8 knots.

At 1900, N292HH was instructed to descend and maintain 5,000 feet. N292HH acknowledged this transmission.

At 1902, N292HH was instructed to fly a heading of 280 degrees. N292HH acknowledged this transmission.

At 1906, N292HH was instructed to descend to and maintain 4,000 feet. N292HH acknowledged this transmission.

At 1907, N292HH was informed of a Boeing 737, which was located at 2 o'clock and 6 miles from their position, southbound turning westbound and descending out of 5,500 feet. N292HH stated they were looking for the traffic.

At 1908, N292HH descended below their assigned altitude of 4,000. The controller asked N292HH to verify their altitude. N292HH replied, "(unintelligible) four thousand hotel hotel."

At 1909, the controller informed N292HH that the traffic was no longer a factor and asked N292HH to report their flight conditions. N292HH responded that they were in visual meteorological conditions. N292HH was then instructed to turn right to a heading of 300 degrees and to expect a visual approach to runway 01L. N292HH acknowledged this transmission.

At 1910, N292HH was instructed to descend and maintain 3,000 feet and to report having the airport in site. N292HH acknowledged this transmission.

At 1911, N292HH reported having the airport in site. The controller then cleared N292HH for the visual approach to runway 1L and instructed the pilot to contact the tower. The pilot acknowledged the transmission.

At 1911:29, N292HH reported, "Kansas City tower uh two niner two hotel hotel (unintelligible)." The controller responded by clearing N292HH to land. This was the last communication between N292HH and air traffic control.

One witness reported hearing the engine noises change several times; as if it was going from a high power setting to a low power setting. He stated he looked to the south-southwest and saw pieces of debris and what looked like a wing falling from the sky. He reported he then looked further west and saw the fuselage with part of a wing "spiraling" to the ground. This witness was a licensed pilot.

Another witness reported hearing fluctuating engine noises. He reported he then saw the airplane spiraling down with a wing missing prior to it going out of sight.

A third witness reported hearing an airplane passing by followed by a "loud boom." He stated he looked up the airplane "took an immediate nose dive twirling as [it] went straight down." This witness continued to report, "Pieces of the plane appeared to be following as it went down."

Personnel information

The pilot held a private pilot certificate with airplane single-engine land and instrument airplane ratings. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued the private pilot certificate on August 14, 2004, and the pilot's instrument rating was issued on March 4, 2005. FAA records indicate the pilot received a third-class medical certificate on November 4, 2003. The medical certificate contained the limitation, "Must Wear Corrective Lenses."

The pilot's family provided copies of the pilot's logbooks. According to these records, the pilot had a total flight time of 579.8 hours all of which were in single-engine land airplanes. The last entry in the logbook that had flight times associated with it was on May 27, 2006. There are several entries prior to this date that did not have either an aircraft make and model, or an aircraft registration number associated with them. According to the entries that did list a make and model, the pilot had a total of 42.6 hours of flight time in a PA-32R-301T. The logbook indicated the pilot received his last flight review on April 6, 2006.

FAA records show the pilot-rated passenger held a private pilot certificate with single-engine land and instrument ratings. The FAA issued the private pilot certificate on March 16, 2005, and the pilot's instrument rating was issued on September 21, 2005. FAA records indicate the pilot received a third-class medical certificated on June 15, 2004. The medical certificate did not contain any limitations.

Aircraft information

The accident airplane was a Saratoga II TC, PA-32R-301T, serial number 3257114. The airplane was manufactured in 1999 and was registered to the current owner in May 2006.

Logbook records indicate the last annual inspection performed on the airframe and engine was on June 17, 2005. At the time of this inspection the hobbs time was listed as 280.7 hours and the airframe total time was listed as 1,272.3 hours. The last inspection recorded in the airframe logbook was on October 11, 2005, at a hobbs time of 416.5 hours.

The airplane was equipped with a 300 horsepower, Lycoming TIO-540-AH1A engine, serial number L-10317-61A. According to the engine logbook the last entry was dated February 14, 2006, at a hobbs time of 548.7 hours, and a total engine and airframe time of 1,540.3 hours.

Meteorological information

The local weather reported at MCI was as follows:

At 1853: Wind 050 degrees at 8 knots, 10 statute miles visibility, scattered clouds at 3,000 feet agl, broken clouds at 20,000 feet agl, temperature 22 degrees Celsius, dew point 14 degrees Celsius, altimeter 30.14 inches of mercury.

At 1930: Wind 060 at 8 knots, 10 statute miles visibility, scattered clouds at 3,000 feet agl, broken clouds at 20,000 feet agl, temperature 22 degrees Celsius, dew point 14 degrees Celsius, altimeter 30.14 inches of mercury.

Wreckage and impact information

The National Transportation Safety Board's (NTSB) on-scene investigation began on June 13, 2006.

All of the wreckage was located in an open field. A global positioning system (GSP) receiver recorded the position of the main wreckage as 39-degrees 11-minutes 23.3-seconds north latitude, 94-degrees 43-minutes 30.2-seconds west longitude. The main wreckage consisted of the fuselage, engine, propeller, right wing, and empennage minus the left and right sides of the stabilator. The forward cockpit section was found inverted and the aft fuselage/empennage was on its left side. The engine and propeller were buried in the terrain un