Pensacola Regional Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Pensacola, Florida 32503
Sunday, June 20, 1993 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PILOT AND PASSENGER DEPARTED A BAR FOR THE AIRPORT ABOUT 2300, AND STOPPED AT A GAS STATION FOR A 12-PACK OF BEER. AFTER TAKEOFF THEY FLEW AROUND FOR 5-10 MINUTES, THEN TURNED BACK TOWARDS THE AIRPORT. THE PASSENGER STATED THAT ALL OF A SUDDEN THE AIRPLANE WAS IN A DIVE, AND THE PILOT DID NOT SAY ANYTHING. THE PASSENGER STATED HE WAS BEING PRESSED DOWN IN HIS SEAT AND THOUGHT THE PILOT WAS ATTEMPTING TO PULL OUT OF THE DIVE WHEN THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH TREES. THE PILOT'S BLOOD ALCHOL LEVEL WAS 292.000 MG/DL (0.29%). IN ADDITION, DIPHENHYDRAMINE WAS DETECTED IN THE PILOT'S BLOOD AND URINE, AND 9.900 UG/ML ACETAMINOPHEN WAS DETECTED IN THE URINE.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE DUE TO ALCOHOL IMPAIRMENT. THE DARK NIGHT WAS A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 6/20/1993
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 34
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City PENSACOLA
Event State FLORIDA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 32503
Event Date Year 1993
Event Date Month 6
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport PENSACOLA REGIONAL
Event Location Nearest Airport ID PNS
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport 360
Airport Elevation 121
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 48 Central Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 30
Weather Observation Facility ID PNS
Elevation of weather observation facility 121
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 1
Time Zone of the weather observation CDT
Lighting Conditions Night/Dark
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 7
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 24
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 21
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 140
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 7
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 1
Injury Total Minor 1
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1029
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jun 20 1993 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 245
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 11 2000 1:23PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N2534B
NTSB Number MIA93FA145
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-38-112
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-38-112
Aircraft Serial Number 38-79A0112
Certified Max Gross Weight 1670
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 2
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection 100 Hour
Date of Last Inspection May 29 1993 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 30
Airframe Hours 5511
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name PENSACOLA AVIATION CENTER INC.
Aircraft Owner Street Address P.O. BOX 2781
Aircraft Owner City PENSACOLA
Aircraft Owner State FL
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 32513
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 Unknown
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 20
Departure Time Zone CST
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Maneuvering
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Dec 11 2000 1:23PM
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 --