# NTSB WPR15FA206: Piper PA 22-135, N8195C, Carey, ID, July 2, 2015 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report - Date: July 2, 2015 - Place: Carey, ID - Coordinates: 43.230278, -113.597221 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.2303&lon=-113.5972&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute: Unknown or undetermined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 1 fatal - Status: Completed, report August 9, 2017 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: FAA-FSDO, Lycoming Engines, Piper Aircraft Corporation - NTSB case key (mKey): 91487 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR15FA206 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/91487/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=91487 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR15FA206 ## Probable cause Undetermined because examination of the airplane wreckage did not reveal any anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Not determined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000): Not determined › Not determined · Unknown/Not determined (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-22-135, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md?model=7102206), [All aircraft, 2,247 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute: Unknown or undetermined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-22-135, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000/sequence.md?model=7102206), [All aircraft, 1,703 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000/sequence.md) - [Enroute: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Piper PA-22-135, 17 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=7102206), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The commercial pilot stopped at an intermediate airport during a cross-country personal flight, and added 22 gallons of fuel to the airplane. The family reported the airplane overdue, and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued an alert notice (ALNOT). The wreckage was located the following day. On site examination by FAA inspectors indicated that the airplane was intact when it hit the ground in a nose low attitude with a rotational component. The toxicology report contained findings for ethanol detected in the lung, heart, and blood. N-propanol was detected in heart, lung, and blood. The report noted putrefaction. The NTSB's medical officer noted that ethanol is the type of alcohol present in beer, wine, and liquor, and can cause impairment at low doses. Generally, the rapid distribution of ethanol throughout the body after ingestion leads to similar levels in different tissues. A small amount of ethanol can be produced in tissues by microbial action post mortem, often in conjunction with other alcohols such as N-propanol, acetone, and methanol. With the information available, it was not possible to determine how much, if any, of the identified ethanol was from ingestion. Examination of the wreckage revealed no anomalies that would have precluded normal operation of the airframe or engine. ## Factual narrative On July 2, 2015, at an undetermined time, a Piper PA22-135 airplane, N8195C, collided with terrain near Carey, Idaho. The commercial pilot sustained fatal injuries, and the airplane was destroyed. The pilot/owner was operating the airplane as a 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The flight departed Malad City Airport (MLD), Malad City, Idaho, about 1105 mountain daylight time with a planned destination of Stanley, Idaho. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed. The pilot originated the flight from the Canyonlands Field Airport (CNY), Moab, Utah; he then stopped at MLD, and added 22 gallons of fuel to the airplane. A SPOT device, which is a handheld GPS tracking device that uses a satellite network enabling text messaging and GPS tracking services, was present on the airplane. Records from the satellite messaging provider contained four data points on July 2, including a test point at 0814:57 MDT was near CNY; a test point at 0959:11 about 23 nautical miles (nm) east of Ogden, Utah; a test point at 1046:14 was in the ramp area of MLD; and a final test point at 1214:36 about 13 nm southwest of the wreckage location. An iPhone 5c that was found in the wreckage was examined. The pilot sent a text message at 1122:07 indicating his estimated time of arrival at Stanley would be 2 hours later. When the pilot did not arrive in Stanley when he was expected, the family reported the airplane overdue, and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued an alert notice at 1907. The Civil Air Patrol located the wreckage at 1018 on July 3. The Blaine County Coroner conducted an autopsy of the pilot, and the cause of death was reported as blunt force trauma. Toxicology testing of the specimens from the pilot by the FAA's Bioaeronautical Science's Research Laboratory were negative for carbon monoxide and tested drugs. The testing detected 64 (mg/dL, mg/hg) ethanol in lung, 62 (mg/dL, mg/hg) ethanol in heart, and 61 (mg/dL, mg/hg) ethanol in blood. N-propanol was detected in heart, lung, and blood. The report noted that putrefaction of the specimens had occurred. Ethanol is the type of alcohol present in beer, wine, and liquor, and can cause impairment at low doses. Generally, the rapid distribution of ethanol throughout the body after ingestion leads to similar levels in different tissues. A small amount of ethanol can be produced in tissues by postmortem microbial action, often in conjunction with other alcohols such as N-propanol, acetone, and methanol. The first identified point of contact was a principal impact crater (PIC) that was several feet in diameter with narrow ground scars extending in opposite directions from the center. The propeller was separated from the engine, and was partially buried in the PIC. A lens cap cover and red lens fragments were found at the end of the narrow ground scar farthest from the main wreckage. The main wreckage was upright, about 50 ft away from the PIC, andoriented perpendicular to the narrow ground scars with the nose pointing toward the PIC. Due to the condition of the wreckage, FAA inspectors were unable to establish flight control continuity. There was a black liquid stain that led to the oil cooler. The engine was under the cabin area, which was severely crushed and deformed. The right wing remained in its position, but had sustained heavy aft crush damage. The left wing had rotated about 70° clockwise from its position. The airframe had buckled 90° down immediately forward of the leading edge of the vertical stabilizer, and twisted 90° counterclockwise. The trailing edges of the left elevator and rudder were on the ground; the outboard half of the right elevator and horizontal stabilizer were above the right wing. The examination of the airframe and engine revealed no anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8195C](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8195C-2016-10-13), registration cancelled 2016-10-13, S/N 22-2300 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA 22-135 - Registry model: [Piper PA-22-135](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-22-135) (registry code 7102206) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-290 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-290-series) (registry code 41506, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 22-2300 - Year built: 1954 - Airframe hours: 2731 - Engines: LYCOMING O-290-D2 135 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, November 20, 2014, 49 hours before - Departed: MLD, Malad City, ID - Destination: 2U7, Stanley, ID - Equipment: Satellite tracking device, Handheld GPS ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 21; injuries: fatal; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review April 9, 2015; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 924 total, 26 in this make and model, 771 as pilot in command, 104 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dusk - Wind: 120° at 9 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 48 °F - Altimeter: 30.18 inHg - Observed at: KSUN, 35 nm away ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20150702010119A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20150702010119A), Jul 2, 2015: Piper PA-22-135, Carey, ID, Destroyed, 1 fatal. During flight between malad city to stanley, Idaho, the aircraft stalled and spun into the ground completely destroying the aircraft and fatally injuring the… ## Other investigations on N8195C (1) From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. - [NTSB CHI78FEP51](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI78FEP51), Jul 28, 1978: Piper PA-22 (N8195C), Milwaukee, WI, substantial damage ## Docket (15 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 4, 2017, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=91487. 9.8 MB in all. - Personal Electronic Device - Specialist's Factual Report (4 Embedded Images) (item 1, .PDF, 560 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40454843&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Personal%20Electronic%20Device%20-%20Specialist%27s%20Factual%20Report%20(4%20Embedded%20Images)-Master.PDF - GPS Device - Specialist's Factual Report (1 Embedded Image) (item 2, .PDF, 222 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40454844&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=GPS%20Device%20-%20Specialist%27s%20Factual%20Report%20(1%20Embedded%20Image)-Master.PDF - Satellite Messaging System - Specialist's Factual Report (3 Embedded Images) (item 3, .PDF, 882 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40454845&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Satellite%20Messaging%20System%20-%20Specialist%27s%20Factual%20Report%20(3%20Embedded%20Images)-Master.PDF - NTSB Medical Officer Factual Report (item 4, .PDF, 313 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40454846&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=NTSB%20Medical%20Officer%20Factual%20Report-Master.PDF - NTSB Airframe and Engine Exam Report (22 Embedded Images) (item 5, .PDF, 2.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40454847&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=NTSB%20Airframe%20and%20Engine%20Exam%20Report%20(22%20Embedded%20Images)-Master.PDF - Record of Conversation - FAA Inspector (item 6, .PDF, 59 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40454848&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20-%20FAA%20Inspector-Master.PDF - Pilot Logbook Excerpts (item 7, .PDF, 547 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40454849&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%20Logbook%20Excerpts-Master.PDF - Maintenance Logbook Excerpts (item 8, .PDF, 849 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40454850&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Maintenance%20Logbook%20Excerpts-Master.PDF - Pilot 72-hour History Info (item 9, .PDF, 278 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40454851&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2072-hour%20History%20Info-Master.PDF - Record of Correspondence - Lori MacNichol (item 10, .PDF, 54 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40454853&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Correspondence%20-%20Lori%20MacNichol-Master.PDF - Statement of Party Representatives to NTSB Investigation (item 11, .PDF, 1.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40454852&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Statement%20of%20Party%20Representatives%20to%20NTSB%20Investigation-Master.PDF - Release of Aircraft Wreckage, NTSB Form 6120.15 (item 12, .PDF, 178 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40454854&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Release%20of%20Aircraft%20Wreckage,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.15-Master.PDF - Toxicological Report (item 13, .PDF, 466 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40454855&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Toxicological%20Report-Master.PDF - Evidence Control iPhone & Garmin GPS (item 14, .PDF, 107 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40454856&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Evidence%20Control%20iPhone%20%26%20Garmin%20GPS-Master.PDF - FAA Site Photos (item 15, .PDF, 2.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40454857&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Site%20Photos-Master.PDF From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.