Vineyard Haven Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Marthas Vineyrd, Massachusetts 02557
Friday, June 18, 1993 15:50 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF THE PILOT CONTACTED ATC AND REPORTED HE WAS AT 400 FT. AFTER THE PILOT RECEIVED AND ACKNOWLEDGED A FURTHER CLEARANCE, RADIO AND RADAR CONTACT WAS LOST. SEVERAL WITNESSES IN THE AREA SAW THE AIRPLANE DESCEND BELOW THE CLOUDS, FLYING AT A LOW ALTITUDE, HEADING IN THE DIRECTION OF THE AIRPORT, TURN TO THE RIGHT AND IMPACT THE GROUND. EXAMINATION OF THE AIRFRAME AND ENGINE REVEALED NO DISCREPANCIES. TOXICOLOGICAL TESTS CONDUCTED ON THE PILOT REVEALED POSITIVE CONCENTRATIONS OF THE DRUGS CHLORDIAZEPOXIDE AND NORDIAZEPAM WHICH COULD HAVE AFFECTED THE PILOT'S ABILITY TO FLY SAFELY.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 6/18/1993
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 1550
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City MARTHAS VINEYRD
Event State MASSACHUSETTS
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 02557
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 VINEYARD HAVEN
Event Location Nearest Airport ID MVY
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 1
Degrees magnetic from airport 250
Airport Elevation 68
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1550 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 70
Weather Observation Facility ID MVY
Elevation of weather observation facility 68
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 1
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 300
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Unknown
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Obscured
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 1.5
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 19
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 230
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 12
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 3
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 3
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1804
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jun 18 1993 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1650
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 11 2000 1:24PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Instrument Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N73CE
NTSB Number NYC93FA118
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed IFR
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire Ground
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name CESSNA
Aircraft Model P210
Aircraft Series Identifier P210
Aircraft Serial Number 21000369
Certified Max Gross Weight 3400
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 6
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Apr 6 1993 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 1484
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name YANKEE SOONER CHARTER INC.
Aircraft Owner Street Address 1233 SHELBURNE
Aircraft Owner City S. BURLINGTON
Aircraft Owner State VT
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 05403
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name CHARLES HERMAN EHLERS
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 81 FARMERS CLIFF RD.
Operator City CONCORD
Operator State NH
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 01742
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 Yes
Departure Airport Code
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 1547
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code BED
Destination City BEDFORD
Destination State MA
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Maneuvering
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 24
Runway Length 5499
Runway Width 150
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --