NTSB Factual Report

HISTORY OF FLIGHT

On June 9, 2016, about 1521 central daylight time, a Piper PA-28-140 airplane, N6223W, impacted a lake while departing from Wishek Municipal Airport (6L5), Wishek, North Dakota. The pilot and two passengers were fatally injured, and the airplane was substantially damaged. The airplane was registered to the Cherokee Flying Club and operated by the pilot under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Day visual meteorological conditions existed at the time of the accident. The personal flight departed without a flight plan and was destined for Bismarck Municipal Airport (BIS), Bismarck, North Dakota.

According to the pilot's parents, the pilot was flying his aunt and cousin to Bismarck so that his cousin could receive urgent dental care. The pilot was a member of the flying club that owned the airplane. Another member of the club, who spoke with the pilot about 10 minutes before the airplane's departure, reported that he thought that the pilot and passengers were rushing as they prepared to leave. A witness located on the airport ramp saw the airplane depart on runway 14 and climb out with a nose-high attitude. According to the witness, after entering a right turn, the airplane rapidly pitched down to a nose-low attitude.

Downloaded data from a portable GPS navigation device found in the airplane revealed that the airplane made a right turn after takeoff at 160 ft above ground level and 48 knots groundspeed. The right turn continued for the next 20 seconds during which time the airplane climbed about 30 ft and its groundspeed was between 53 and 59 knots. During the next 8 seconds, the airplane rapidly descended about 200 ft and impacted a lake about 1/2 mile southwest of the airport.

PERSONNEL INFORMATION

The pilot, age 20, held a private pilot certificate with an airplane single-engine land rating, which was issued on November 9, 2015. On July 22, 2015, the pilot was issued a third class medical certificate with no restrictions. According to an insurance application dated January 12, 2016, the pilot had accumulated 55 total flight hours of which 17 hours were in the accident airplane. The flying club member who spoke with the pilot before the flight stated that the pilot had flown the airplane a few times since returning from college in mid-May, including a flight on the evening before the accident. The pilot's logbook was not available for review.

AIRCRAFT INFORMATION

The airplane was manufactured in 1964 and was equipped with a Lycoming O-320-E3D engine and a Sensenich two-blade, all-metal propeller. On April 1, 2016, the airplane underwent an annual inspection at an airframe total time of 3,459 hours and 1,235 hours since the engine had last been overhauled. The accident occurred about 21 hours after this inspection. The airplane was equipped with a red stall warning light on the instrument panel but was not equipped with a stall warning horn.

The flaps-retracted stall speeds listed in the airplane's flight manual were 64 mph (calibrated airspeed) at 0° of bank and 73 mph (calibrated airspeed) at 40° of bank, which equates to 56 knots at 0° of bank and 64 knots at 40° of bank. These stall speeds were based on a maximum gross weight of 2,150 pounds. At the time of the accident, the airplane's weight was estimated to be about 300 pounds less than maximum gross weight.

WEATHER INFORMATION

At 1552, the weather observation station at BIS, located about 60 miles northwest of the accident site, reported the following conditions: wind 160° at 6 knots, 10 miles visibility, clear skies, temperature 33°C, dew point 15°C, and altimeter setting 29.67 inches of mercury.

WRECKAGE AND IMPACT INFORMATION

Examination of the airplane at the accident site revealed that the airplane came to rest in a nose-down attitude in about 4 ft of water. The damage to the airplane was consistent with a near-vertical descent with a low forward velocity at impact. Following recovery from the lake, the airplane and engine were examined in a nearby hangar. Both wings were intact and remained attached to the fuselage by the main wing spars. The main landing gear assemblies were attached to their respective wings, and both wing flaps were retracted.

The flight control surfaces remained attached to their respective airframe surfaces. No anomalies were noted with the flight control system. Stabilator and aileron control continuity were established from the respective controls to the "T" bar chain. Stabilator trim continuity was established from the trim tab to the trim crank handle in the overhead panel, and the stabilator trim barrel indicated a neutral trim setting. Rudder control continuity was established from the rudder to the rudder pedal assembly.

Both fuel tank caps were installed, and both fuel tank vents were found clear of debris. The fuel selector valve was in the right-wing fuel tank position. A functional check of the fuel selector valve, using low pressure air, revealed that the valve was functional. The fuel pump operated normally when hand rotated, and the carburetor was disassembled and no anomalies were noted.

The propeller remained attached to the engine, and the spinner was attached to the spinner bulkhead and crushed aft. The propeller blades were minimally damaged with one blade having minor abrasions on the leading edge of its tip.

The top Champion REM40E sparkplugs were removed from the cylinders. All displayed a normal worn condition when compared to the Champion Aviation Service Manual (AV6-R). After cleaning with compressed air and contact cleaner, both magnetos sparked normally at all leads during rotation.

The four cylinders remained attached to the crankcase. The rocker covers were removed, and no preaccident anomalies were noted with the rockers, rocker shafts, or valve springs. A borescope inspection of the four cylinders revealed no anomalies with the pistons, cylinder barrels, cylinder heads, valves, or valve seats.

The engine exhaust system was found impact damaged; however, the heat muff was intact with no significant cracks or exhaust erosion. Examination of the airframe and engine revealed no evidence of mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation.

MEDICAL AND PATHOLOGICAL INFORMATION

On June 10, 2016, the North Dakota Department of Health medical examiner in Bismarck, North Dakota performed an autopsy on the pilot. The cause of death was blunt force injuries with drowning. The FAA's Civil Aeromedical Institute in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma performed toxicology tests on the pilot. The results were negative for all tests conducted.

TESTS AND RESEARCH

The portable GPS navigation device found in the airplane, a Garmin Aera 560, was recovered from the accident site and evaluated by the NTSB Recorder Laboratory. For further details, see the GPS Factual Report in the public docket for this investigation.

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed during a climbing turn after takeoff, which resulted in the airplane exceeding its critical angle of attack and an aerodynamic stall. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's self-induced pressure to quickly transport his cousin for urgent dental care.