NTSB Factual Report

HISTORY OF FLIGHT

On October 14, 2012, about 2127 central daylight time, a Cessna 172R airplane, N2126R, impacted a tree and terrain during a descent near Simpson, Louisiana. The pilot, who was the sole occupant, sustained fatal injuries. The airplane sustained substantial damage. The airplane was registered to and operated, as a rental airplane, by Flightline Leasing Inc. under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Night visual flight rules (VFR) conditions prevailed for the flight, which did not operate on a VFR flight plan. The flight originated from the Pineville Municipal Airport (2L0), near Pineville, Louisiana, about 2059, and was destined for the Orange County Airport (ORG), near Orange, Texas.

The purpose of the flight was to fly to ORG. When the pilot did not reach ORG, the operator contacted the air traffic control tower at Ft Polk, Louisiana, and had asked if the airplane flew through their area of radar coverage. An aircraft's radar returns, with a VFR code, were observed to depart from 2L0 about 2059 and the returns stopped about 2127 near Simpson, Louisiana. Army helicopters in the area were asked to fly to the last radar return location where the airplane wreckage was subsequently found on October 15, 2012, about 1530.

PERSONNEL INFORMATION

The 44-year-old pilot held a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) private pilot certificate with an airplane single engine land rating. He held a Third Class Medical Certificate dated May 11, 1998, with no limitations. The pilot reported on the application for that medical certificate that he had accumulated 150 hours of total flight time and 20 hours of flight time in the previous six months. According to a flight instructor's records, the pilot accumulated 7.3 hours of flight instruction in helicopters. The pilot's logbook showed he had recorded that he flew 188.4 hours of total flight time, which included 7.7 hours of multi-engine flight time, 18.6 hours of flight time in night conditions, and 3.8 hours of flight time in simulated instrument meteorological conditions.

AIRCRAFT INFORMATION

N2126R was a 2003 Cessna model 172R airplane with serial number 17281176. The airplane was a high wing, all-metal, single-engine, four-place monoplane. It had a fixed tricycle landing gear configuration, and was powered by a fuel injected four-cylinder, Lycoming IO-360-L2A engine, bearing serial number L-29533-51A, and marked as producing 160-horsepower at 2,400 rpm and 180-horsepower at 2,700 rpm. An airplane logbook endorsement showed that the airplane's last annual inspection was completed on September 20, 2012, and that the airplane had accumulated 5,502.3 hours of total time. A flight log indicated that the airplane accumulated about 20.7 hours of time since the annual inspection. According to the operator, the airplane's fuel tanks were topped off prior to the accident flight.

METEOROLOGICAL INFORMATION

At 2153, the recorded weather at the Alexandria International Airport (AEX), near Alexandria, Louisiana, was: Wind 170 degrees at 6 knots, visibility 1 3/4 statute miles; present weather light rain, mist; few clouds at 2,800 feet, broken clouds 3,600 feet, overcast clouds 6,000 feet; temperature 23 degrees C; dew point 22 degrees C; altimeter 30.00 inches of mercury; remarks lightning distant southwest, thunderstorm ended 2103, rain began 2146.

At 2109, the recorded weather at AEX was: Wind calm; visibility 10 statute miles; broken clouds 4,600 feet, overcast clouds 6,000 feet; temperature 23 degrees C; dew point 22 degrees C; altimeter 29.98 inches of mercury; remarks lightning distant east, thunderstorm ended 2103.

At 2155, the recorded weather at the Polk Army Airfield (POE), near Fort Polk, Louisiana, was: Wind calm; present weather thunderstorms; few clouds 4,200 feet, scattered clouds 5,500 feet, scattered clouds 7,500 feet, temperature 22 degrees C; dew point 21 degrees C; altimeter 30.01 inches of mercury; remarks rain ended 2117.

At 2055, the recorded weather at POE was: Wind 310 degrees at 6 knots; visibility 6 statute miles; present weather thunderstorms, rain, mist; scattered clouds 3,400 feet, broken clouds 4,900 feet, overcast clouds 8,000 feet; temperature 23 degrees C; dew point 22 degrees C; altimeter 30.01 inches of mercury; remarks thunderstorm ended 2042, began 2052, rain began 2036

WRECKAGE AND IMPACT INFORMATION

The airplane impacted a tree that was about 50 feet tall and a field about three nautical miles and about 75 degrees from the intersection of Louisiana Highway 8 and Hood Camp Road. A debris path started at that tree, which had broken upper branches. The broken branches were found near the base of the tree. The path continued on an observed heading of about 055 degrees and extended about 370 feet. The airplane was fragmented along this path with a section of wing skin coming to rest about 50 feet from the tree and the right wing tip coming to rest about 66 feet from the tree. The propeller separated from the engine and it was observed in a crater about 111 feet from the tree. The propeller exhibited chordwise abrasions. Ground scars were consistent with the airplane impacting the ground in a right wing low, nose low attitude. The engine separated from the fuselage and came to rest about 210 feet from the tree. The fuselage and empennage came to rest about 230 feet from the tree. The battery was fragmented and the largest portion of the battery was located about 370 feet from the tree. All major components of the airplane were accounted for at the accident site.

All flight control cables were traced. All observed control cable separations had a broomstrawed appearance consistent with overload failure. The wing flap selector handle and flap indicator were in the zero degree position. The flap jackscrew actuator measurement corresponded to a zero degree flap setting. The elevator trim actuator measurement was consistent with a 25-degree tab up setting. The fuel selector valve was found in the both setting and no obstructions were observed in the valve. The emergency locator transmitter sustained impact damage. The vacuum pump and attitude indicator were found crushed. The turn and bank indicator was disassembled and its gyro exhibited rotational scoring. The Hobbs meter was separated from its face and the complete meter was not located. The throttle and mixture control were in a forward position and the magneto switch was on both. The baggage door remained partially attached to the fuselage. The left and right cabin doors were found deformed and separated from the fuselage.

The engine's sump, accessories, and no. 1 cylinder head were separated consistent with impact damage. A liquid consistent with the smell of aviation gasoline was found in the fuel servo. The engine's crankshaft, when an accessory gear was turned by hand, could only be rotated about a degree because of impact damage at the nose of the engine. The accessory case was removed and crankshaft to camshaft continuity was visually established. Valve train continuity for the no. two, three, and four cylinders were confirmed when the camshaft was turned by hand. The separated no. one cylinder's valve train operation was confirmed up to its cam followers. Continuity of the crankshaft and the connecting rods was further confirmed by a borescope visual examination through openings in the crankcase. No airplane or engine pre-impact anomalies were detected.

MEDICAL AND PATHOLOGICAL INFORMATION

The Vernon Parish Coroner's Office arranged to have an autopsy performed on the pilot by the Louisiana State University Health Science Center's Department of Pathology on October 16, 2012. The report listed the cause of death as blunt force deceleration type injuries.

The FAA Civil Aerospace Medical Institute prepared a Final Forensic Toxicology Accident Report. The report, in part, showed that the toxicological sample sustained putrefaction and indicated:

79 (mg/dL, mg/hg) Ethanol detected in Muscle

67 (mg/dL, mg/hg) Ethanol detected in Liver

N-Butanol detected in Muscle

N-Propanol detected in Muscle

...

0.045 (ug/mL, ug/g) Dihydrocodeine detected in Gastric

1.38 (ug/ml, ug/g) Hydrocodone detected in Gastric

0.087 (ug/ml, ug/g) Hydrocodone detected in Lung

Hydrocodone detected in Liver

0.857 (ug/mL, ug/g) Oxycodone detected in Gastric

0.103 (ug/mL, ug/g) Oxycodone detected in Lung

Zolpidem detected in Liver

Zolpidem detected in Muscle

The FAA Forensic Toxicology's WebDrugs website description of Ethanol, in part, indicated that the postmortem production of ethanol takes place due to putrefaction processes.

The FAA Forensic Toxicology's WebDrugs website description of Butanol, in part, indicated it was an aliphatic alcohol, which is produced as a byproduct of specimen putrefaction.

The FAA Forensic Toxicology's WebDrugs website description of Propanol, in part, indicated it was an alcohol, which is produced postmortem.

The FAA Forensic Toxicology's WebDrugs website description of Dihydrocodeine indicated it was a semisynthetic narcotic analgesic.

The FAA Forensic Toxicology's WebDrugs website description of Hydrocodone indicated it was a semisynthetic narcotic analgesic prepared from codeine. It is widely used as an antitussive in cough syrups.

The FAA Forensic Toxicology's WebDrugs website description of Oxycodone indicated it was a synthetic analgesic opiate used in the treatment of pain.

The FAA Forensic Toxicology's WebDrugs website description of Zolpidem indicated it was AMBIEN, which is indicated for the short-term treatment of insomnia.

The National Transportation Safety Board Chief Medical Officer reviewed information to include toxicology results, autopsy findings, the pilot's FAA blue ribbon medical file, the FAA's medical review of the case, and the pilot's personal medical records.

According to the pilot's personal medical records, which were available from 2003 forward, he had a history of hypertension (high blood pressure), insomnia, and ankylosing spondylitis (a form of inflammatory arthritis). He was treated with a number of medications for these conditions. Two of the medications carried a warning that they "may impair mental and/or physical ability required for the performance of potentially hazardous tasks (e.g., driving, operating heavy machinery)."

The pilot's last visit to his personal physician was on September 14, 2012. At that time, he reported a flare of symptoms from his ankylosing spondylitis including increased joint pain and stiffness and was treated with a steroid taper. The effectiveness of that treatment was not documented in the medical record and on September 24, 2012, he called his physician's office for a refill of his narcotic pain medication.

TESTS AND RESEARCH

According to air traffic control (ATC) radar return data viewed at the air traffic control tower at POE, the airplane departed 2L0 and it entered the Class D airspace around AEX where it climbed for about 15 minutes to about 3,500 feet. The airplane then flew southwesterly at an altitude of about 2,300 feet and about 120 knots. The airplane's radar returns showed the airplane was flying on a westerly heading at approximately 2,100 feet and 120 knots about 2126. The airplane then descended to 1,800 feet and its groundspeed increased to 130 knots. The next radar data point showed the aircraft turning to the right, descending to 1,400 feet, and increasing speed to 140 knots. The last radar point showed the aircraft at 800 feet and 150 knots on a northeast heading. This descending turn was observed on the radar playback scope between two areas consistent with precipitation returns.

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilot’s loss of airplane control while maneuvering between areas of precipitation during a night cross-country flight.