Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Faribault, Minnesota 55021
Monday, January 26, 1998 4:00 CST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot departed on a night cross country flight at 2230 cst. The airplane did not arrive at its planned destination at 2330 cst according to the wife of the passenger. The wreckage was found about 4-miles northeast of an airport that had been reporting IFR conditions during the time period the airplane was en route and after its planned arrival. Examination of the airframe and engine revealed no mechanical anomalies that would prevent flight. The pilot's toxicology report showed about 26-percent carbon monoxide in his blood. The ends of the airplane's muffler were corroded and had many pinhole-sized holes along its edges. Its shroud had baked oil on its inside surface. The muffler had rust on both sides of its body. The airplane had flown about 4-hours during the year before the latest annual inspection had been conducted. The mechanic who had inspected the muffler said he had noticed some small pinhole-sized holes at the muffler's end. He said he did not think they were serious or would cause a problem. This inspection was conducted about 2- months before the accident.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

was the pilot's patial incapacitation due to carbon monoxide poisoning. A factor associated with this accident was the mechanic's inadequate inspection of the airplane's muffler and inadequate preflight planning and preparation by the pilot.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 1/26/1998
Event Day of the Week Monday
Time of Event 400
Event Time Zone Central Standard Time
Event City FARIBAULT
Event State MINNESOTA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 55021
Event Date Year 1998
Event Date Month 1
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Full
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 338 Central Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 20
Weather Observation Facility ID FBL
Elevation of weather observation facility 1020
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 4
Time Zone of the weather observation CST
Lighting Conditions Night/Dark
Lowest Ceiling Height 700
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Unknown
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Overcast
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 2
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) -4
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -6
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 70
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 6
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Fatal
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal 2
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 663
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jan 26 1998 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 929
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 11 2000 10:38AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Instrument Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N5099W
NTSB Number CHI98FA086
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Piper
Aircraft Model PA-28-160
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-28-160
Aircraft Serial Number 28-111
Certified Max Gross Weight 2050
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 4
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Nov 20 1997 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 13
Airframe Hours 3018
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name BRAINERD HELICOPTER SERVICE
Aircraft Owner Street Address P.O. BOX 482
Aircraft Owner City BRAINERD
Aircraft Owner State MN
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 56401
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address
Operator City
Operator State
Operator Country
Operator Zip code
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code BRD
Departure City BRAINERD
Departure State MN
Departure Country
Departure Time 2230
Departure Time Zone CST
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Cruise
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:34AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 0
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --