PIPER PA-32-260

Full Narrative

HISTORY OF FLIGHTOn June 13, 2021, about 2355 central daylight time, a Piper PA-32-260 airplane, N3258W, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Madisonville, Texas. The private pilot was fatally injured, and five passengers received serious injuries. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight.
According to automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast data, the accident flight departed from Port Isabel-Cameron Country Airport, Port Isabel, Texas, about 2121 and proceeded to Madisonville Municipal Airport (51R), Madisonville, Texas.
The airplane impacted 50-ft-tall trees about 680 ft south of the approach end of runway 36 at 51R. The airplane came to rest about 550 ft south of the approach end of the runway.
PERSONNEL INFORMATIONA pilot logbook was found in the wreckage, and its two most recent entries were dated October 10, 2018, and November 8, with no year specified. The pilot’s recency of experience and the date of his most recent flight review could not be determined.
AIRCRAFT INFORMATIONThe airplane’s maintenance logs were not located. A mechanic who completed the most recent annual inspection stated that he completed an “extensive” annual inspection of the airplane in July or August 2020.
AIRPORT INFORMATIONThe airplane’s maintenance logs were not located. A mechanic who completed the most recent annual inspection stated that he completed an “extensive” annual inspection of the airplane in July or August 2020.
WRECKAGE AND IMPACT INFORMATIONThe airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and wings due to impact with trees and terrain.
The propeller displayed S-bending consistent with the engine producing power at the time of impact. The trees along the wreckage path exhibited slash marks consistent with propeller strikes. The wing flaps were fully extended. Flight control continuity was confirmed. There were no mechanical anomalies that would have precluded normal operation.
The airplane’s rotating beacon and landing light switches were in the OFF position. The landing light filament did not exhibit stretching.
MEDICAL AND PATHOLOGICAL INFORMATIONAt the time of his most recent Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) medical examination, the pilot reported taking no medications and no medical conditions. According to the autopsy, the pilot died as a result of blunt force injuries and the manner of death was accident. Other than an approximate 85% narrowing of his left anterior descending coronary artery, no other significant natural disease was identified.
Toxicological testing by the FAA Forensic Sciences Laboratory identified the antidepressant sertraline at 1,006 nanograms per milliliter (ng/mL) and its metabolite, desmethysertraline, in the pilot’s heart blood at 1,533 ng/mL; both were also detected in his urine. The non-impairing medications salicylic acid and atorvastatin were also detected.