N8542WPiper PA-28-235 · 1963

On July 22, 2022, about 1845 central daylight time, a Piper PA-28-235 airplane, N8542W, was destroyed when it was involved in an accident near Seguin, Texas. The pilot and passenger were fatally injured. The airplane was operated by the pilot as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal cross-country flight.

The accident flight departed Elm Creek Airpark (0TX6), Seguin, Texas, with a reported destination of Natchitoches Regional Airport (IER), Natchitoches, Louisiana. Radar track data revealed a track consistent with the accident airplane departing runway 14 at 0TX6 and then entering a left turn. The accident site is about 1/4 mile east of 0TX6 and about 1,000 ft east of the last radar hit. Airspeed data showed a decreasing airspeed from 64 knots (ground speed) to 54 knots at the last radar hit. Altitude could not be determined from the target data available. The airplane struck trees and impacted terrain shortly after the left turn, after which a postimpact fire ensued.

A friend of the passenger reported that he was in contact with the passenger via a video call before the airplane departed on the evening of the accident flight. The passenger stated that they were having maintenance issues and that the pilot could not get the engine started. During the video conversation, the friend could see that the engine cowling was openNo record of conversation in the docket regarding this conversation between the friend and the passenger. The photo taken by the passenger is also not in the docket.

. The exact maintenance issues with the airplane were not discussed. A photo was also taken by the passenger that showed the right side of the airplane, with the pilot on the wing near the open airplane entry door. Additionally, the photo showed that the engine cowling’s right side aft latch appeared not flush with the cowling and the aft edge of the cowling was not flush with the fuselage. Shortly after, another photo of the airplane was captured by a local resident as it crossed in front of his hangar, about 400 ft down runway 14 after it started its departure roll. The photo shows that the right-side upper cowling appears as if it was not secured. The day before the accident flight, a resident of the airpark reported that the accident airplane had stopped near their residence located near the departure end of runway 14. The pilot had said to the resident that his cowling had opened and that he needed to secure it before taking off. The airplane departed a few minutes later and returned to the airport about 45 minutes later.

Examination of the accident site revealed that a postaccident fire occurred consuming some of the wreckage. All major structural components of the airplane were located. The upper engine cowling and portions of the lower cowling were located furthest in the debris field. The four cowling latches and fasteners remained attached to the upper cowling. The left cowling latch and fasteners remained attached to the receiver ends of the thermally damaged sections of the lower cowling. The right cowling latch and fasteners were intact and not attached to their corresponding receiver ends on the lower cowling. The aft latch assembly was bent. The right lower cowling fastener receivers were not found during the examination. Postaccident examination of the airframe and engine revealed no evidence of any preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation.

Toxicology testing performed at the Federal Aviation Administration Forensic Sciences Laboratory found Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) was detected in the pilot. 11-hydroxy-THC (11-OH-THC) was also detected in blood and urine, but not in his lung tissue. Carboxy-delta-9-THC (THC-COOH) was detected in the pilot’s lung tissue and in his urine. The antihistamine cetirizine was detected in the pilot’s blood, urine and in his liver tissue. The generally non-impairing substances acetaminophen, atorvastatin, sildenafil, desmethylsildenafil, loratadine, and desloratadine were detected in the pilot’s urine and/or liver tissue; acetaminophen was also detected in his chest blood.