N6483BCessna 172 · 1956

On October 9, 2019, about 2235 central daylight time, a Cessna 172 airplane, N6483B, was destroyed when it was involved in an accident near Aberdeen, South Dakota. The pilot sustained fatal injuries. The personal flight was conducted under the provisions of Title 14 Federal Code of Regulations Part 91.

According to records provided by the airport and a local fixed base operator (FBO), the airplane was flown by the pilot to Aberdeen Regional Airport (ABR) on September 30, 2019, to be assessed for an annual inspection at a local FBO. The pilot was informed by the FBO of what work needed to be accomplished to complete an annual inspection. The pilot decided not to have the work completed and parked the airplane on a ramp at ABR. After the assessment was made, the FBO issued an Aircraft Condition Notice FAA Form 8620-1 and tagged the airplane. The notice stated, “Aircraft deemed un-airworthy due to numerous un-airworthy findings to include broken or cracked landing gear saddles. Other items as described on work order 1083 at ABR Flying Service.”

According to a family member, the pilot was dropped off at the airport after normal operating hours and intended to fly the airplane to an airport in North Dakota where the airplane was normally hangered. Airport video surveillance records showed the airplane taking off from runway 31 about 2231 on October 9, 2019. The family member reported the airplane missing when it did not arrive at the destination airport. After an extensive search, the airplane wreckage was located about 7 miles from ABR on October 21, 2019. First responders identified the airplane and notified the FAA and NTSB. The NTSB arrived on scene on October 22, 2019.

According to FAA records, the pilot did not hold a valid pilot certificate, had no instrument training or rating, and had no medical certificate. The pilot’s flight logbooks were not found, and his total flight time could not be determined. A family member reported that the pilot had about 100 hours of flight time in the accident airplane.

Maintenance logbooks for the airframe and engine were not found. The only records that were available were work orders that were generated by Aberdeen Flying Service FBO, while assessing the airplane for an annual inspection on October 1, 2019. The inspection was not performed at the pilot’s request.

Dark night instrument meteorological conditions (IMC) prevailed in the area There were no records of the pilot contacting any services for weather reports. According to residents who loved nearby the accident site, the weather was cold, windy, low clouds, fog, and mist on the night of October 9, 2019. An NTSB Weather Study (included in the docket) confirmed that IMC existed in the area. The nearest weather reporting facility (ABR), located about 7 miles from the accident site, issued a METAR at 2253 CDT.

METAR KABR 100353Z AUTO 35019G27KT 7SM -RA BKN007 OVC014 05/03 A2994 RMK AO2 PK WND 34027/0352 SLP144 P0001 T00500033.

According to the carburetor icing probability chart, with a temperature of 5ºC and a dew point of 3ºC (+2 dewpoint depression), the airplane was operating within the range of serious carburetor icing at any power setting.

Maintenance logbooks for the airframe and engine were not found. The only records that were available were work orders that were generated by Aberdeen Flying Service FBO, while assessing the airplane for an annual inspection on October 1, 2019. The inspection was not performed at the pilot’s request.

The airplane's wreckage was not found until 12 days after the accident. The wreckage was in a farmer's field, about 7 miles north of ABR. On scene observations showed evidence that the airplane initially impacted a 60-foot-tall tree with its left wing. Debris was scattered beyond the initial impact of the tree on a heading of 148º. The fuselage skidded along the ground for about 500 feet, coming to rest on the edge of standing water. The engine was separated from the fuselage and submerged in the standing water.

Both wings remained attached to the fuselage. The fuselage and empennage were severely crushed and fragmented. The empennage was separated about flight station (FS) 90 and was partially attached by control cables. The vertical fin and rudder separated during the impact sequence and were found about 15 feet in front of the main wreckage. Both fuel tanks were compromised and impact damaged. Fuel quantity and quality at takeoff are unknown. The airframe fuel system could not be examined due to impact damage. The carburetor heat control in the cockpit was found in the OFF position. The carburetor and air box were detached from the engine and could not be examined for functionality due to impact damage. Flight control cable continuity was established from all control surface to the cockpit controls. All flight controls remained attached to their respective surfaces. The flap handle (bar) was observed in the third notch (30º of flaps).

The firewall and engine separated and was found about 20 feet in front of the main wreckage submerged in standing water. The propeller assembly was found fractured at the engine crank flange. Both propeller blades were twisted, polished, and exhibited “S” bending. Engine drive continuity and thumb compression were established. No mechanical anomalies were found. The damage to the propeller blades was consistent with rotation at the time of impact.

There were no records of any radio communications from the pilot. There was no radar information on the accident flight. The airplane was not equipped with automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast.

The pilot had not reported any chronic medical conditions or use of any medications to the FAA. The pilot had previously (2017) had his student pilot license and medical certificate revoked by the FAA for performing unauthorized cross-country flights and falsifying a reviewer’s signature. However, he had reapplied in 2019 and been granted a student pilot and third-class medical certificate. A hotline report had been made to the FAA 6 days before the accident indicating the pilot may have had cognitive problems and unreported medical issues as well as unsafe piloting behaviors.

According to the autopsy performed by the University of North Dakota Forensic Pathology, the cause of death was multiple blunt force injuries, and the manner of death was accident. During the autopsy, an implantable medical device was identified in the left anterior chest wall with leads extending into the neck towards the head.

Toxicology testing identified cetirizine (151 ng/ml); citalopram (573 ng/ml) and its metabolite N-desmethylcitalopram; bupropion (549 ng/ml) and its metabolite hydroxybuproprion; and trazodone (110 ng/ml) in heart blood. All of these substances were also identified in liver tissue.