N9236J – PIPER PA-32R-301 – 2024-04-12 NTSB Accident Report

HISTORY OF FLIGHTOn April 12, 2024, about 1633 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-32R-301 airplane, N9236J, was destroyed when it was involved in an accident near Knoxville, Tennessee. The commercial pilot was fatally injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight.

According to Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) air traffic control information, the pilot contacted clearance delivery at McGhee Tyson Airport (TYS), Knoxville, Tennessee, about 1611 and was cleared to Gerald R. Ford International Airport (GRR), Grand Rapids, Michigan, as filed. The pilot acknowledged the clearance and reported having the current weather information for TYS. At 1616, the local controller cleared the flight for takeoff from runway 23L and instructed the pilot to fly the runway heading.

After departure, the pilot was instructed to turn right and proceed direct to GRR while climbing to 8,000 ft mean sea level (msl). About 1619, the pilot contacted departure control and continued the climb. A performance study of the airplane’s flight path based on ADS-B data showed that the airplane turned right onto a northerly heading around 1621 while climbing at airspeeds that were calculated to be between 85 and 105 kts. About 1628, the airplane leveled off around 8,000 ft msl.

At 1631:27, the pilot contacted the controller and stated that he was “picking up a little moisture in the clouds” and requested deviations or a higher altitude. The controller approved lateral deviations and offered a climb to 10,000 ft msl, which the pilot accepted. The airplane resumed climbing about 1632, during which its airspeed rapidly decayed from about 120 kts to 80 kts.

At 1632:33, the airplane reached a maximum altitude of 8,500 ft msl, which coincided with its lowest speed of 80 kts. The airplane then rolled left and turned more than 90° in 11 seconds while descending at a rate of 1,300 ft per minute. Between 1632:42 and 1632:47, the airplane leveled off about 8,200 ft msl. Shortly thereafter, airspeed began to increase and the airplane entered a right turn. About 1633:03, the airplane entered a rapid descent, reaching a rate of about 6,000 ft per minute.

About 1633:15, the pilot transmitted “mayday, mayday, mayday.” The controller responded and observed the airplane in a spiraling descent. No further communications were received from the pilot.

The last recorded ADS-B position at 1633:33 indicated that the airplane was descending through approximately 5,750 ft msl with a groundspeed about 223 kts and its calibrated airspeed was about 210 kts.

A witness reported hearing an airplane that sounded like it was “over-revving” and observed the airplane “twirling” as it descended below the clouds. The witness subsequently observed airplane debris falling from the sky before ground impact. PERSONNEL INFORMATIONThe pilot held a commercial pilot certificate with an instrument rating. A review of available logbook information indicated limited recent instrument flight experience, including 1.8 hours of dual instruction with two instrument approaches and one holding procedure recorded about seven months before the accident. AIRCRAFT INFORMATIONAccording to the airplane’s flight manual, the airplane was limited to Day/Night VFR and Day/Night IFR for “Non-Icing” operations only. This restriction was mandated by FAA Type Certificate Data Sheet Note 2 and required a placard noting the limitations that must be displayed in view of the pilot.

The airplane’s published stall speed was 65 knots indicated airspeed (KIAS). The airplane’s published never-exceed speed (Vne) was 197 KIAS. METEOROLOGICAL INFORMATIONWeather observations at TYS about the time of departure included wind from 280° at 13 kts, gusting to 24 kts, 10 statute miles visibility, light rain, scattered clouds at 5,000 ft above ground level (agl), a broken ceiling at 6,500 ft agl, and an overcast layer at 7,500 ft agl. ATIS information current at the time of departure included light rain and advisories for low-level wind shear.

AIRMETs for icing, mountain obscuration, and moderate turbulence, as well as a convective SIGMET, were in effect for the region of the accident site at the time of the accident. Available meteorological data indicated cloud ceilings between 4,500 ft and 5,000 ft msl, with cloud tops around 18,500 ft msl. A high resolution rapid refresh model atmospheric sounding indicated a freezing level around 5,500 ft msl, with moderate clear, rime, and mixed icing indicated between 6,000 and 15,000 ft msl. The sounding also identified maximum vertical velocities exceeding 4,000 ft/min.

Weather surveillance radar imagery indicated that the airplane entered an area of precipitation beginning around 1624 and continued into an area of rain shower activity about 1627, as shown in the figure, below.

Figure. Weather surveillance radar imagery for a scan initiated at 1627:33. The accident site is marked with a red circle and the location of the airplane at the time of the scan is shown in a black circle. The magenta line depicts the airplane's flight track.

Icing probability and severity information, contained in the forecast icing product (FIP) and current icing product (CIP) imagery, indicated likely icing conditions between 1600 and 1700 in the area of the accident site, with greatest intensities between 7,000 ft and 8,000 ft msl. FIP/CIP imagery also indicated the likelihood of supercooled large droplet (SLD) icing conditions between 6,000 ft and 8,000 ft above the accident site.

According to an air traffic control services review, no pilot reports of icing were received from other aircraft in the area during the hour preceding the accident. Precipitation in the form of light rain was present at the time of departure.

Information provided by ForeFlight indicated that the pilot filed his instrument flight rules flight plan through the application and a briefing was generated. This briefing contained all standard weather information forecast before 1547, including AIRMETs and PIREPs. The briefing also contained a chart showing moderate icing conditions at 6,000 ft and above through the first half of the filed route, but did not contain the FIP/CIP products that indicated the potential for SLD icing. According to ForeFlight, the pilot did not access weather imagery from his account before the accident flight.

According to FAA Advisory Circular 91-74B, “Pilot Guide: Flight in Icing Conditions,” supercooled large drops are water drops with a diameter greater than 0.05 millimeters that exist in a liquid form at air temperatures below 0°C. The AC stated that SLD can result in ice accretions that cause, “very rapid and dangerous stall speed and drag increases for some aircraft, and roll control anomalies for others.”

Regarding preflight planning, the AC stated that pilots can reasonably expect inflight icing when flying in clouds with temperatures at or below 0°C (32°F), and that:

It is critically important for pilots to obtain the freezing levels for the areas in which they will be flying to be able to make educated decisions on how to exit icing conditions if they are encountered. AIRPORT INFORMATIONAccording to the airplane’s flight manual, the airplane was limited to Day/Night VFR and Day/Night IFR for “Non-Icing” operations only. This restriction was mandated by FAA Type Certificate Data Sheet Note 2 and required a placard noting the limitations that must be displayed in view of the pilot.

The airplane’s published stall speed was 65 knots indicated airspeed (KIAS). The airplane’s published never-exceed speed (Vne) was 197 KIAS. WRECKAGE AND IMPACT INFORMATIONThe airplane impacted wooded terrain near a residential area. The fuselage was found nose-down, and both wings were separated from the fuselage. The debris field extended over a distance of several thousand feet. The left wing was located about 2,481 ft from the main wreckage, the rudder about 4,707 ft, the horizontal stabilizer about 5,979 ft, and a portion of the right fuel tank about 10,260 ft from the fuselage.

Examination of the flight control system revealed continuity from the cockpit to the control surfaces, except for separations consistent with overload, or with cuts made during recovery. Several control cable ends exhibited a “broomstraw” appearance consistent with tensile overload failure. The wing main spar fracture surfaces exhibited a dull, granular appearance. Portions of the wings were fragmented and distributed along the debris path.

The engine was partially buried at the accident site. A post-recovery examination revealed mechanical continuity of the crankshaft and camshaft, and no evidence of preimpact anomalies or internal failure. Fuel was present in the fuel system components examined, and no contamination was observed. The three-bladed propeller remained attached to the engine. Two blades remained secured in the hub, and one blade was separated. The blades exhibited leading edge damage, chordwise scratching, and torsional twisting consistent with rotation under power at impact. MEDICAL AND PATHOLOGICAL INFORMATIONAn autopsy of the pilot’s remains was performed by the Knox County Regional Forensic Center as authorized by the Anderson County Medical Examiner. According to the autopsy report, the cause of death was blunt force injuries and the manner of death was accident.

The FAA Forensic Sciences Laboratory performed toxicological testing of the pilots remains and detected ethanol at 0.02 g/dL in the pilot’s vitreous fluid and at 0.019 g/dL in the pilot’s urine. Ethanol was not detected in liver or brain tissue. Acetone was detected in urine, but not in vitreous fluid, liver tissue, or brain tissue. Ibuprofen was detected in liver tissue and urine.

Ethanol is the intoxicating alcohol in beer, wine, and liquor, and, if consumed, can impair judgment, psychomotor performance, cognition, and vigilance. FAA regulation imposes strict limits on flying after consuming ethanol, in...