Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Center Hill, Florida 33514
Sunday, August 26, 2007 10:22 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

A pilot/employee of a skydive business departed with a company airplane before business hours. The pilot's girlfriend alerted local authorities that the pilot had called her at 0400, as he was depressed over their recent breakup. She told officials that he was planning to use a small airplane to attempt suicide. She further stated that he had been drinking and taking medication. Local officials arrived at the airport at 0524 and observed the airplane take off and depart to the southwest. The Civil Air Patrol received an emergency locator transmitter signal at 1022 and located the wreckage at 1530. The disposition of the wreckage was consistent with a high-energy impact. At the conclusion of the airframe and engine examination, no evidence of any preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions were found. Forensic toxicology testing performed on specimens from the pilot detected 270 mg/dL (0.26 percent) ethanol in the blood and 315 mg/dL ethanol in the urine. Toxicology testing was also consistent with recently discontinued use of an antidepressant and the use of a different medication used for seizures, movement disorders, and certain mental conditions.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot committed suicide. Contributing to the event was the pilot's impairment due to alcohol.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 8/26/2007
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1022
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City Center Hill
Event State FLORIDA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 33514
Event Date Year 2007
Event Date Month 8
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 283510N
Event Location Longitude 0815745W
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 --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1053 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 50
Weather Observation Facility ID LEE
Elevation of weather observation facility 25
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 15
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) 30
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 23
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
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 1
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 24410
NTSB Notification Source FAA Southern Region C-ROC
NTSB Notification Date Aug 26 2007 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 7 2009 6:19PM
User who most recently changed record muzd
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Orlando FSDO

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N904DZ
NTSB Number ATL07LA119
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? No
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name CESSNA
Aircraft Model P206
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number P2060100
Certified Max Gross Weight 3300
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
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 Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Jul 1 2007 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 6496
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Yes
ELT Type Unknown
Aircraft Owner Name Bradco Inc.
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City Lewes
Aircraft Owner State DE
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 19958
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name Daren Alva Ramphal
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address --
Operator City Sarasota
Operator State FL
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 34241
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
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 HEG
Departure City Jacksonville
Departure State FL
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 524
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code --
Destination City --
Destination State --
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Descent
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 7 2009 6:19PM
User who most recently changed record muzd
Since inspection or accident Last Inspection
Event Location Runway Number and Location N/A
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --