Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Wernersville, Pennsylvania 19565
Friday, July 5, 1991 10:41 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PILOT HAD FLOWN TO LANCASTER, PA. TO PICK UP THE 'BEST MAN' FOR HIS WEDDING. THE PILOT FILED AN IFR FLIGHT PLAN AND DEPARTED IN IFR CONDITIONS. APPROXIMATELY 15 MINUTES LATER, THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE HAD LOST THE HORIZON INDICATOR, BUT WAS GOING TO CONTINUE TO HIS DESTINATION. THE CONTROLLER ISSUED A CLEARANCE TO CLIMB TO 6,000 FT. AND A SHORT TIME LATER, THE PILOT STATED '...ITS PRETTY HAZY HERE BUT I KNOW WE'RE ON TOP BUT I DON'T KNOW IF I WANT TO GO ANY HIGHER.' SHORTLY THEREAFTER, THE PILOT REPORTED THE 'ELECTRIC COMPASS AND TURN AND BANK INDICATOR' HAD FAILED. ACCORDING TO RADAR DATA, THE MAXIMUM ALTITUDE ATTAINED BY N82718B WAS 5,700 FT. POST ACCIDENT EXAMINATION OF THE AIRPLANE'S VACUUM SYSTEM REVEALED NO EVIDENCE OF A PRE IMPACT FAILURE. TOXICOLOGY TEST REVEALED A LEVEL OF 1.1 MG/KG OF ANTIHISTAMINE IN THE PILOT'S BODY.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE PILOT'S LOSS OF AIRPLANE CONTROL DUE TO SPATIAL DISORIENTATION/VERTIGO. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE THE PILOT'S USE OF AN ANTIHISTAMINE AND SELF INDUCED PRESSURE TO COMPLETE THE FLIGHT.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 7/5/1991
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 1041
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City WERNERSVILLE
Event State PENNSYLVANIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 19565
Event Date Year 1991
Event Date Month 7
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 0
Weather Briefing Completeness Full
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1045 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID LNS
Elevation of weather observation facility 403
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 500
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Partial Obscuration
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Overcast
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 5
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 20
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 19
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 80
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 5
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
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) 1862
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jul 5 1991 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1200
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 45747
Date of most recent change to record Dec 12 2000 10:32AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Instrument Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N8271B
NTSB Number NYC91FA171
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 None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name PIPER
Aircraft Model PA-28-201T
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-28-201T
Aircraft Serial Number 28R8118005
Certified Max Gross Weight 2900
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 Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Oct 5 1990 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name PEDERSEN, ALAN W.
Aircraft Owner Street Address 42 CLUB COURT
Aircraft Owner City STROUDSBURG
Aircraft Owner State PA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 18360
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 LNS
Departure City LANCASTER
Departure State PA
Departure Country
Departure Time 1027
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code AVP
Destination City WILKES-BARRE
Destination State PA
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Cruise
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 0
Runway Width 0
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --