Individually Owned: 150,657
Corporate Owned: 137,281
Somerset-Pulaski County Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report
Somerset, Kentucky 42501
Thursday, November 20, 2003 8:30 EST
NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident
During takeoff and initial climb, the engine "missed" six times. The airplane entered a left turn toward the airport, but the engine lost all power. The airplane subsequently struck trees and impacted a field about 1/2 mile north of the airport. Examination of the wreckage revealed that the fuel selector was positioned between "LH TANK" and "OFF;" however, the pre-impact position of the fuel selector could not be verified. Review of the airplane maintenance records revealed that after several reports of engine power losses during landing rolls, the fuel system was replaced about 5 months prior to the accident. A fuel leak was discovered and corrected shortly after the replacement. Following the correction, the airplane flew approximately 14 hours during the 5-month period, with no known discrepancies regarding the engine. After the accident, several components on the engine were replaced or repaired due to impact damage, and a successful test run of the engine was completed. Toxicological testing for the pilot in command revealed the presence of doxylamine, a sedating over-the-counter antihistamine commonly found in multi-symptom cold relievers such as NyQuil, and sleep aids such as Unisom. The level of doxylamine was consistent with ingestion of the maximum single over-the-counter dose of a sleep aid within a few hours prior to the accident. Post-accident interviews with the pilot's wife revealed that he was suffering from common cold symptoms such as coughing and congestion. The pilot was treating the cold with NyQuil at night, and non-drowsy Sudafed during the day.
NTSB Probable Cause Narrative
A total loss of engine power during takeoff for undetermined reasons. A factor was the impairment of the pilot in command due to an over-the-counter antihistamine.
Event Information
| Type of Event | Accident |
| Event Date | 11/20/2003 |
| Event Day of the Week | Thursday |
| Time of Event | 830 |
| Event Time Zone | Eastern Standard Time |
| Event City | Somerset |
| Event State | KENTUCKY |
| Event Country | -- |
| Zipcode of the event site | 42501 |
| Event Date Year | 2003 |
| Event Date Month | 11 |
| MidAir Collision Indicator | No |
| On Ground Collision occurred ? | No |
| Event Location Latitude | 370346N |
| Event Location Longitude | 0843643W |
| Event Location Airport | Somerset-Pulaski County |
| Event Location Nearest Airport ID | SME |
| Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport | Off Airport/Airstrip |
| Distance from airport in statute miles | 0.5 |
| Degrees magnetic from airport | 360 |
| Airport Elevation | 927 |
| Weather Briefing Completeness | Not pertinent |
| Investigator's weather source | Weather Observation Facility |
| Time of the weather observation | 856 Eastern Standard Time |
| Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) | 180 |
| Weather Observation Facility ID | SME |
| Elevation of weather observation facility | 927 |
| Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) | 1 |
| Time Zone of the weather observation | EST |
| 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) | 7 |
| Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) | 3 |
| Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) | -- |
| Variable Wind Indicator | Variable |
| Wind Speed (knots) | -- |
| Wind Velocity Indicator | Calm |
| Wind Gust Indicator | Not Gusting |
| Wind Gust (knots) | -- |
| Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) | 30.13 |
| Density Altitude (feet) | -- |
| Intensity of Precipitation | -- |
| METAR weather report | -- |
| Event Highest Injury | Fatal |
| On Ground, Fatal Injuries | -- |
| On Ground, Minor Injuries | -- |
| On Ground, Serious Injuries | -- |
| 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) | 16438 |
| NTSB Notification Source | SROC |
| NTSB Notification Date | Nov 20 2003 12:00AM |
| NTSB Notification Time | 910 |
| Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information | DMS |
| Date of most recent change to record | Sep 29 2004 1:02PM |
| User who most recently changed record | NTSB\MONR |
| Basic weather conditions | Visual Meteorological Cond |
| FAA District Office | Louisville, KY |
Aircraft Involved |
|
|---|---|
Aircraft #1 |
|
| Aircraft Registration Number | N748CH |
| NTSB Number | NYC04FA036 |
| Missing Aircraft Indicator | -- |
| Federal Aviation Reg. Part | Part 91: General Aviation |
| Type of Flight Plan filed | IFR |
| Flight plan Was Activated? | Yes |
| Damage | Substantial |
| Aircraft Fire | None |
| Aircraft Explosion | None |
| Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name | Beech |
| Aircraft Model | J35 |
| Aircraft Series Identifier | -- |
| Aircraft Serial Number | D5600 |
| 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 | Jun 24 2003 12:00AM |
| Airframe hours since last inspection | 14 |
| Airframe Hours | 3860 |
| ELT Installed | Yes |
| ELT Activated | No |
| ELT Aided Location of Event Site | No |
| ELT Type | -- |
| Aircraft Owner Name | Ronald Centers |
| Aircraft Owner Street Address | -- |
| Aircraft Owner City | London |
| Aircraft Owner State | KY |
| Aircraft Owner Country | USA |
| Aircraft Owner Zipcode | 40744 |
| Operator is an individual? | No |
| Operator Name | Mock Air |
| Operator Same as Owner? | No |
| Operator Is Doing Business As | -- |
| Operator Address Same as Owner? | No |
| Operator Street Address | -- |
| Operator City | Somerset |
| Operator State | KY |
| Operator Country | USA |
| Operator Zip code | 42501 |
| 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) | Other Work Use |
| Second Pilot on Board | No |
| Departure Point Same as Event | Yes |
| Departure Airport Code | SME |
| Departure City | Somerset |
| Departure State | KY |
| Departure Country | USA |
| Departure Time | 830 |
| Departure Time Zone | EST |
| Destination Same as Local Flt | -- |
| Destination Airport Code | LEX |
| Destination City | Lexington |
| Destination State | KY |
| Destination Country | USA |
| Specific Phase of Flight | Takeoff - initial climb |
| Report sent to ICAO? | No |
| Evacuation occurred | No |
| Date of most recent change to record | Aug 23 2004 1:53PM |
| User who most recently changed record | PEAR |
| Since inspection or accident | Time of Accident |
| Event Location Runway Number and Location | 4 |
| Runway Length | 5400 |
| Runway Width | 100 |
| Sight Seeing flight | No |
| Air Medical Flight | No |
| Medical Flight | -- |