Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Snook, Texas 77878
Wednesday, November 18, 1992 18:15 CST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH 25-30 FT HIGH TREE IN A PASTURE, AND THEN IMPACTED THE GROUND AND CARTWHEELED. THE PROPERTY OWNER WHO HEARD THE IMPACT STATED THAT THE WX WAS LOW OVERCAST, DRIZZLE AND FOG. ACCORDING TO FRIENDS AND ACQUAINTANCES OF THE PILOT, HE WAS DEPRESSED OVER A DIVORCE AND WAS UNDERGOING MEDICAL TREATMENT FOR DEPRESSION. DURING THE EVENING PRECEDING THE ACCIDENT, THE PILOT HAD BEEN OBSERVED CIRCLING A TOWN AT LOW ALTITUDE. HE WAS MET AT THE AIRPORT BY A LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER WHO REPORTED THAT THE PILOT APPEARED TO BE IMPAIRED. THE PILOT WAS GIVEN THE OPTION OF CHECKING INTO A MOTEL OR GOING TO JAIL FOR PUBLIC INTOXICATION; THE PILOT CHECKED INTO A MOTEL. THE PILOT'S TOXICOLOGY TESTS AFTER THE ACCIDENT REVEALED BLOOD ETHANOL CONCENTRATION OF 156 MG/DL. IN ADDITION, A 0.283 UG/ML LEVEL OF SERTRALINE (TRANQUILIZER) WAS DETECTED IN THE BLOOD SAMPLES.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE PILOT'S INTENTIONAL FLIGHT INTO INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS AS A RESULT OF HIS ALCOHOLIC AND DRUG IMPAIRMENT OF EFFICIENCY AND JUDGEMENT. FACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO OBTAIN WEATHER INFORMATION, THE DARK NIGHT AND EXISTING WEATHER CONDITIONS.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 11/18/1992
Event Day of the Week Wednesday
Time of Event 1815
Event Time Zone Central Standard Time
Event City SNOOK
Event State TEXAS
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 77878
Event Date Year 1992
Event Date Month 11
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 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Witness
Time of the weather observation 0
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID
Elevation of weather observation facility 0
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation
Lighting Conditions Night/Dark
Lowest Ceiling Height 500
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) 3
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 18
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 16
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 110
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 9
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Light
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 --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 859
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Nov 19 1992 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 815
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 50021
Date of most recent change to record Dec 11 2000 3:26PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Instrument Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N9323H
NTSB Number FTW93FA039
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 CESSNA
Aircraft Model 172M
Aircraft Series Identifier 172M
Aircraft Serial Number 17266087
Certified Max Gross Weight 2300
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 May 1 1992 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 42
Airframe Hours 2015
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name WOOD CO. PILOT'S ASSOC.
Aircraft Owner Street Address P. O. BOX 847
Aircraft Owner City QUITMAN
Aircraft Owner State TX
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 75783
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name WOOD CO. PILOT'S ASSOC.
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address P. O. BOX 847
Operator City QUITMAN
Operator State TX
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 75783
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 45R
Departure City KOUNTZE
Departure State TX
Departure Country
Departure Time 1630
Departure Time Zone CST
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code CLL
Destination City BRYAN
Destination State TX
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Maneuvering
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:35AM
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 --