GENERAL INFORMATION FOR NTSB REPORT: BFO93FA129
| Data Source |
NTSB AVIATION ACCIDENT/INCIDENT DATABASE |
| NTSB Report Nbr |
BFO93FA129 |
| Event Id |
20001211X12783 |
| Local Date |
07/01/1993 |
| Local Time |
330 |
| State |
MD |
| Airport Name |
ST. MARY'S COUNTY |
| Event Type |
ACCIDENT |
| Injury Severity |
FATAL |
| Record Status |
FINAL |
| Mid Air Collision |
NO |
| Event Location |
OFF AIRPORT/AIRSTRIP |
WEATHER INFORMATION
| Weather Briefing Complete |
UNKNOWN |
| Basic Weather Conditions |
INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL COND |
| Light Condition |
DAWN |
| Cloud Condition |
PARTIAL OBSCURATION |
| Cloud Height above Ground Level (ft) |
600 |
| Ceiling Height above Ground Level (ft) |
0 |
| Cloud Type |
NONE |
| Visibility RVR (ft) |
0 |
| Visibility RVV (sm) |
0 |
| Visibility (sm) |
2 |
| Wind Direction (deg) |
120 |
| Wind Condition Flag |
U |
| Wind Speed (knots) |
7 |
| Wind Condition Indicated |
Unknown |
AIRCRAFT INFORMATION
Aircraft 1
| Type of Operation |
PART 91: GENERAL AVIATION |
| Registration Number |
N5291L |
| Aircraft Make |
PIPER |
| Aircraft Model |
PA28 |
| Aircraft Series |
180 |
| Aircraft Damage |
DESTROYED |
| Aircraft Fire |
NONE |
| Aircraft Explosion |
NONE |
| Aircraft Type |
AIRPLANE |
| Aircraft Homebuilt |
UNKNOWN |
| Phase of Flight |
TAKEOFF |
| Aircraft Use |
PERSONAL |
| Flight Plan Filed |
NONE |
| Operator Name |
AIRPARK SALES AND SERVICE |
| Operator Doing Business As |
|
| Owner Name |
FRANCIS G. BAKER |
| Number of Seats |
4 |
| Number of Engines |
1 |
| ELT Installed |
YES |
| ELT Operated |
NO |
| Departure Airport Id |
|
| Departure City |
|
| Last Departure Point |
YES |
| Destination Airport Id |
PVG |
| Destination City |
HAMPTON ROADS |
| Destination State |
VIRGINIA |
| Runway Id |
0 |
| Air Carrier Operating Certificates |
NO |
| Air Carrier Other Operating Certificates |
UNKNOWN |
| Rotocraft/Agriculture Operating Certificate |
UNKNOWN |
| Cert Max Gross Wgt |
2500 |
ENGINE INFORMATION
Aircraft 1 - Engine : #1
| Engine Manufactuer
| LYCOMING |
| Engine Model
| O-360-A4A |
| Engine Horsepower
| 180 |
| Engine Thrust
| HP |
| Carb/Injection
| CARBURETOR |
INJURY INFORMATION
Injury Summary for Aircraft 1
| |
Fatal |
Serious |
Minor |
None |
| Crew |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Pass |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Total |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Sequence of Events for Aircraft 1
Occurrence #1
IN FLIGHT COLLISION WITH OBJECT
Phase of Operation: CLIMB
Events Sequence for Occurrence #1 of Aircraft 1
| Event Seq # |
Event Group Code |
Subject |
Modifier |
Personnel |
Cause/Factor |
| 1 |
2 |
PREFLIGHT PLANNING/PREPARATION |
INADEQUATE |
PILOT IN COMMAND |
FACTOR |
| 2 |
1 |
WEATHER CONDITION |
LOW CEILING |
|
FACTOR |
| 3 |
1 |
WEATHER CONDITION |
FOG |
|
FACTOR |
| 4 |
1 |
WEATHER CONDITION |
OBSCURATION |
|
FACTOR |
| 5 |
2 |
VFR FLIGHT INTO IMC |
INITIATED |
PILOT IN COMMAND |
CAUSE |
| 6 |
3 |
FATIGUE (LACK OF SLEEP) |
|
PILOT IN COMMAND |
FACTOR |
| 7 |
1 |
OBJECT |
TREE(S) |
|
|
AIRCRAFT 1 PRELIMINARY REPORT
AIRCRAFT 1 FINAL REPORT
THE PILOT TOOK OFF IN THE EARLY MORNING HOURS INTO MARGINAL VFR AND/OR IMC CONDITIONS. NO WEATHER BRIEFING, FLIGHT PLAN, OR RADIO COMMUNICATIONS WERE RECORDED BY ANY FAA FACILITY. THE AIRPLANE IMPACTED TREES LESS THAN 1 MI FROM THE AIRPORT, AND WAS FOUND 17 DAYS LATER. EXAMINATION OF THE AIRPLANE DID NOT REVEAL ANY PRE=IMPACT MECHANICAL MALFUNCTIONS. THE AIRPLANE WAS FLOWN BY OTHER PILOTS FOR ABOUT 6 HRS TOTAL TIME 1 DAY PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT WITH NO SIGNIFICANT DISCREPANCIES NOTED. WITNESSES REPORTED THAT THE PILOT HAD AT LEAST 'ONE OR TWO' MIXED ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES BEFORE 2100. THE MEDICAL EXAMINER PERFORMED A TOXICOLOGICAL ANALYSIS ON A SPECIMEN OF MUSCLE TISSUE TO SCREEN FOR ALCOHOL - THE FINDING WAS NEGATIVE. WITNESS STATEMENTS INDICATE THAT THE PILOT HAD BEEN AWAKE FOR OVER 18 HRS.
AIRCRAFT 1 CAUSE REPORT
THE PILOT INITIATING VFR FLIGHT IN INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS. FACTORS WHICH CONTRIBUTED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO OBTAIN A WEATHER BRIEFING, HIS LACK OF SLEEP, AND THE EXISTING WEATHER CONDITIONS.
END REPORT