Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Bingham, Nebraska 69335
Friday, October 9, 2009 13:00 MST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot reported that he fueled the airplane and departed for a local flight. In the Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report (NTSB Form 6120.1) submitted by the pilot, he stated he has no memory of the actual crash and that he had fallen asleep, behind the controls. Photographs of the scene and information provided by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Inspector indicated the airplane impacted the terrain in a relatively level attitude. Additionally, a witness reported that he saw the airplane flying low, just before impact. An examination of the airplane did not reveal any pre-impact abnormalities. An alcohol test was conducted on the pilot, by local law enforcement personnel approximately seven hours after the accident, and revealed a blood alcohol level of 0.078. In his statement to law enforcement personnel, the pilot reported that he consumed alcohol prior to his departure. Additionally, the pilot did not have a current FAA medical certificate.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's impairment due to alcohol consumption and failure to maintain aircraft control.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 10/9/2009
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 1300
Event Time Zone Mountain Standard Time
Event City Bingham
Event State NEBRASKA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 69335
Event Date Year 2009
Event Date Month 10
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 420020N
Event Location Longitude 1014605W
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 Unknown
Time of the weather observation
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID --
Elevation of weather observation facility --
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) --
Time Zone of the weather observation --
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions --
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling --
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 4
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 0
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) --
Variable Wind Indicator Variable
Wind Speed (knots) --
Wind Velocity Indicator Light and Variable
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.02
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 1
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 26377
NTSB Notification Source FAA NW ROC
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Feb 23 2010 12:05PM
User who most recently changed record johb
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N54750
NTSB Number CEN10CA013
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name PIPER
Aircraft Model PA-18-150
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 18-7609053
Certified Max Gross Weight --
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 2
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Jul 17 2009 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 1820
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type C91
Aircraft Owner Name SEARS GARY L
Aircraft Owner Street Address 63859 SEARS DR
Aircraft Owner City HYANNIS
Aircraft Owner State NE
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 69350
Operator is an individual? Yes
Operator Name SEARS GARY L
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address 63859 SEARS DR
Operator City HYANNIS
Operator State NE
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 69350
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 1V2
Departure City Hyannis
Departure State NE
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1100
Departure Time Zone MDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code 1V2
Destination City Hyannis
Destination State NE
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 20 2010 2:24PM
User who most recently changed record johb
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 --