N6461JPiper PA-28-180 · 1968

On May 31, 2020, at 1330 central daylight time, a Piper PA28-180, N6461J, was destroyed when it was involved in an accident near Pineville, Louisiana. The private pilot and one passenger were fatally injured, and one child passenger was seriously injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight.

One witness, who was a flight instructor, reported that he saw the airplane take off from runway 36 at Pineville Municipal Airport (2L0). He stated that the airplane seemed to struggle to clear the trees at the end of the runway. The airplane then made a hard left turn about 400 ft above the ground (agl), to about a heading of 270°. The airplane then banked to a heading of 180° with the wings vertical in an "apparent stall/spin situation." The airplane then descended below the tree line.

Another witness, who was also a flight instructor, reported that he saw the airplane take off and it was "struggling" to climb. When the airplane was about 400 ft agl, he saw the airplane make a left turn with about a 60°-75° bank angle. The airplane then entered a heading of about 270°, holding a very steep bank angle. It then continued the left bank to a easterly heading and disappeared behind the tree line. A third witness described the airplane entering an “accelerated stall” at and altitude of about 200-300 ft agl.

There were no radio or distress calls heard from the pilot. The accident site was located in a heavily wooded area, about 1.5 miles from the departure end of runway 36 at 2L0. Local authorities rescued the surviving passenger and secured the accident site. After initial on-site examinations, the airplane wreckage was transported to a secure facility for further examinations. The estimated weight of the airplane at the time of the accident was at or slightly above its maximum gross weight.

The pilot’s estimated total flight time was based on information that he provided during his most recent Federal Aviation Administration medical examination on January 9, 2020. The pilot’s logbooks were not available during the investigation.

The fuselage exhibited severe tearing crumpling and crushing of the cabin and forward fuselage sections. The instrument panel and firewall were crushed by impact forces. The fuel system exhibited severe impact damages but did not reveal any pre-impact anomalies or restrictions. Flight control continuity was confirmed from the cockpit to all flight control surfaces. The two-bladed propeller hub was attached to its flange. Both blades exhibited scoring on their respective leading edges, consistent with some rotation at impact. Several small trees showed cuts consistent with propeller blade contact. The postaccident examination of the aircraft and engine revealed no evidence of any preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation.

An autopsy on the pilot was performed by the Louisiana Forensic Center, Broussard, Louisiana. The cause of death was multiple blunt force injuries. Toxicology tests were performed by the FAA Bioaeronautical Sciences Research Laboratory, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Ethanol was identified at 0.037 gm/dl in muscle but was absent in brain. N-butanol, another alcohol commonly produced in tissues after death, was identified in muscle. Fluoxetine, an antidepressant, and its metabolite, norfluoxetine, were identified in muscle and liver. Trazodone was also identified in liver, brain, and heart, but the muscle specimen was unsuitable for testing. Finally, amphetamine was identified in liver and lung, but brain and muscle tissues were unsuitable for testing. Ethanol is the intoxicant found in beer, liquor, and wine and its negative effects on pilot performance are well documented. However, ethanol may also be produced in tissues after death; in this case, the levels in different tissues may vary widely whereas after ingestion, ethanol is rapidly and evenly distributed. Fluoxetine is an antidepressant and may have mild cognitive effects, but the larger issue is the underly depression, which may have significant effects on judgement, executive functioning, and reaction time. Amphetamine may be used to treat attention deficit issues but does not treat the increased impulsivity associated with attention deficit disorders.