Block Island State Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Block Island, Rhode Island 02807
Monday, October 14, 2002 13:55 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

While in cruise flight, the pilot observed smoke in the cockpit, and diverted to an airport. During the diversion, due to the smoke in the cockpit, the pilot suffered a burning sensation in his eyes and nose, a headache, and dizziness. Subsequently, the airplane touched down fast, about 800-900 feet beyond the approach end of the 2,501-foot long runway, overran the runway, and struck a fence. Examination of the wreckage revealed that the plastic housing and associated wiring on the battery box solenoid relay had melted.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's misjudgment of speed and distance as a result of physical impairment due to smoke.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 10/14/2002
Event Day of the Week Monday
Time of Event 1355
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City Block Island
Event State RHODE ISLAND
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 02807
Event Date Year 2002
Event Date Month 10
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 041005N
Event Location Longitude 0713440W
Event Location Airport Block Island State Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID BID
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 109
Weather Briefing Completeness Full
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1355 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID BID
Elevation of weather observation facility 109
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) --
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 14
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -2
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 360
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 12
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 18
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.2
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Minor
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 3
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 3
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 13515
NTSB Notification Source FAA
NTSB Notification Date Oct 14 2002 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1420
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record May 30 2003 9:51AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\MONR
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Boston, MA

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N5675V
NTSB Number NYC03LA005
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed VFR
Flight plan Was Activated? Yes
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Piper
Aircraft Model PA-28-181
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 28-7790493
Certified Max Gross Weight 2550
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 100 Hour
Date of Last Inspection Sep 6 2002 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 6871
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Yes
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Freeway Airport Inc.
Aircraft Owner Street Address 3900 Church Road
Aircraft Owner City Mitchellville
Aircraft Owner State MD
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 20716
Operator is an individual? No
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? --
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
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 ACK
Departure City Nantucket
Departure State MA
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1245
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code W00
Destination City Mitchellville
Destination State MD
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Landing - roll
Report sent to ICAO? No
Evacuation occurred No
Date of most recent change to record Mar 14 2003 1:50PM
User who most recently changed record PEAR
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location 28
Runway Length 2501
Runway Width 100
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --