N5939PPiper PA-24-250 · 1959

On September 1, 2020, about 1245 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-24-250 airplane, N5939P, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Midland, Michigan. The pilot-rated passenger was fatally injured, and the pilot was seriously injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight.

According to automatic dependent surveillance broadcast (ADS-B) data, the airplane departed Home Acres Sky Ranch Airport (Y91), Lake City, Michigan, about 1125, and arrived at Jack Barstow Airport (IKW), Midland, Michigan, about 1205. The ADSB data were consistent with a touch-and-go landing followed by a full stop landing.

The pilot stated he he and the pilot-rated passenger, who was his wife, preflighted the airplane, and the right fuel tank was full, and the left fuel tank was “partially full.” According to the pilot, he and his wife then flew to IKW that morning; she was the pilot flying during that leg of the trip. She landed and taxied back for takeoff. After the second landing they taxied to the fuel pumps, refueled the left fuel tank with 18 gallons of 100-LL aviation-grade gasoline, and prepared for the next leg of their journey. He stated that the right tank was full of fuel.

The pilot recalled that he was likely the pilot flying for the next leg of their flight. He recalled taxiing the airplane for takeoff and performing an engine runup before takeoff. He did not recall anything after the takeoff roll.

ADS-B data indicated that the airplane took off about 1237 and climbed straight ahead to an altitude of about 2,550 ft mean sea level (msl). It then began a right turn back towards IKW. The last recorded data point showed the airplane at 1244:34 at an indicated altitude of 675 ft msl. The airplane struck a large grass-covered mound of dirt before it came to rest upright.

According to a person who monitored the common traffic advisory frequency at the airport, the pilot reported an engine failure and stated that he would conduct a forced landing to the field.

The airplane came to rest about 50 ft west of the dirt mound. Impact damage was observed to a barbed wire fence. About 15 ft west of the fence, a second dirt mound displayed an area of freshly disturbed earth similar in width to the airplane’s fuselage. A faint odor similar to aviation fuel was noted. An area of blighted grass was observed around the left wing root extending 10 ft to the southwest. The landowner indicated that the grass was alive before the accident. The main wreckage included the empennage, fuselage, both wings, and the engine and propeller assembly.

The flaps were in the up position and the flap handle appeared to be stowed. The fuel selector remained in place within the cabin floor. The selector handle was positioned to the right fuel tank. When the fuel selector was removed from the airplane, fuel emerged from the fuel line to the left fuel tank; no fuel emerged from the fuel line to the right fuel tank. When tested with light air pressure, the fuel selector functioned as intended, with a tactile detent at each position. The belly of the airplane was crushed upward and aft, and blue staining was present. The gascolator appeared undamaged and the valve was closed; no fuel was present in the bowl. The gascolator bowl was removed and no contaminates were observed within.

The left fuel cap remained installed in the left tank filler. A small amount of fuel was observed in the bottom of the bladder. During recovery of the aircraft, fuel was seen streaming from the left wing root. The fuel bladder inspection panel was removed, and a tear to the inboard end of the left fuel bladder was observed. No fuel staining was noted within the wing root.

The right fuel cap remained installed in the right tank filler. A small amount of fuel was observed on the bottom of the bladder. During recovery, no fuel was observed to spill from the right wing. The right fuel bladder inspection panel was removed, and no damage to the right fuel bladder was observed. No fuel staining was noted within the wing root.

The left aileron remained attached to the wing, the left aileron bellcrank and stops appeared undamaged, and the aileron cables remained attached. The right aileron remained attached to the wing, the right aileron bellcrank and stops appeared undamaged, and the aileron cables remained attached.

The vertical stabilizer and rudder remained attached to the empennage, and no damage was apparent to either. The rudder cables remained attached to the rudder control horn and could be traced to the rudder pedal bar. The rudder stops appeared undamaged.

The engine remained attached to the fuselage but was displaced aft and downward. The carburetor was broken away from the engine oil sump and displaced aft. The fuel pump screens were removed from the electric fuel pumps and no blockages were noted. When the screens were removed from the pumps, about 1-2 ounces of fuel was recovered; when tested with Kolor-Kut water finding paste, no reaction to the sample was observed.

During the recovery of the airplane, the blighted grass was seen to extend under the left wing root and left forward side of the fuselage. No blighted grass was noted beneath the right wing or right side of the fuselage.

The crankshaft was rotated by turning the propeller and continuity of the crankshaft to the rear gears and to the valvetrain was confirmed. Normal valve action was observed from all intake and exhaust valves. Compression and suction were observed from all six cylinders. The spark plug electrodes exhibited gray coloration and worn normal condition.

The carburetor throttle control arm was observed about 1/8 inch from the idle speed stop. The mixture control arm was observed in a mid-range position. The carburetor induction air box was crushed and the position of the carburetor heat control arm was undetermined. The carburetor was partially disassembled, and no liquid was observed in the float bowl. No damage to the black composite floats or other internal components was noted. No liquid drained from the carburetor fuel inlet hose when it was removed. The fuel inlet screen was partially crushed but no debris was observed in the screen.

The engine driven fuel pump was removed and no liquid drained from the inlet or outlet hoses when they were removed. No liquid drained from the pump as it was removed and tilted on its side. The pump was partially disassembled, and no damage noted to the rubber diaphragms or internal check valves.