Individually Owned: 150,657
Corporate Owned: 137,281
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report
Benezette, Pennsylvania 15821
Friday, May 13, 2011 18:05 EDT
NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident
According to several witnesses, the airplane was in cruise flight at "high" altitude when the wings rocked and the airplane entered an uncontrolled descent. The airplane "spun a long time" and the engine sound was described as surging during the descent. The pilot regained airplane control, leveled briefly, the sound of the engine became smooth and continuous, and the airplane climbed. Soon after, the wings rocked again; the airplane departed controlled flight, descended behind trees and terrain, and the sounds of impact were heard. A review of the pilot’s records and employment history revealed demonstrated abilities in many different types of airplanes, in all types of environments and weather conditions. An examination of the maintenance records and the wreckage revealed a properly restored and maintained airplane, with no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures noted that would have precluded normal operation. Interviews and the pilot’s medical records revealed he had a history of diabetes, and diabetes-related health issues that included neuropathy (numbness) of the feet. Review of the pilot’s medical records revealed that his diabetes was controlled by medication and diet and that he was eligible for a Federal Aviation Administration medical certificate. A review of the autopsy and toxicology reports revealed no obvious medical event suffered by the pilot before the accident.
NTSB Probable Cause Narrative
The pilot's loss of airplane control for reasons that could not be determined from the available evidence.
Event Information
| Type of Event | Accident |
| Event Date | 5/13/2011 |
| Event Day of the Week | Friday |
| Time of Event | 1805 |
| Event Time Zone | Eastern Daylight Time |
| Event City | Benezette |
| Event State | PENNSYLVANIA |
| Event Country | -- |
| Zipcode of the event site | 15821 |
| Event Date Year | 2011 |
| Event Date Month | 5 |
| MidAir Collision Indicator | No |
| On Ground Collision occurred ? | No |
| Event Location Latitude | 412020N |
| Event Location Longitude | 0782229W |
| 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 | 1756 Eastern Daylight Time |
| Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) | -- |
| Weather Observation Facility ID | DUJ |
| Elevation of weather observation facility | 1817 |
| 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) | 23 |
| Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) | 17 |
| Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) | -- |
| Variable Wind Indicator | Variable |
| Wind Speed (knots) | 7 |
| Wind Velocity Indicator | -- |
| Wind Gust Indicator | Not Gusting |
| Wind Gust (knots) | -- |
| Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) | 29.72 |
| Density Altitude (feet) | -- |
| Intensity of Precipitation | -- |
| METAR weather report | KDUJ 132156Z AUTO 17007KT 140V200 10SM CLR 23/17 A |
| 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) | 31291 |
| NTSB Notification Source | FAA Eastern ROC |
| NTSB Notification Date | -- |
| NTSB Notification Time | -- |
| Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information | -- |
| Date of most recent change to record | Jul 10 2013 10:43AM |
| User who most recently changed record | coln |
| Basic weather conditions | Visual Meteorological Cond |
| FAA District Office | -- |
Aircraft Involved |
|
|---|---|
Aircraft #1 |
|
| Aircraft Registration Number | N7603D |
| NTSB Number | ERA11FA299 |
| 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-22-150 |
| Aircraft Series Identifier | -- |
| Aircraft Serial Number | 22-5304 |
| Certified Max Gross Weight | 2000 |
| 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 | 4 |
| Number of Engines | 1 |
| Fixed gear or retractable gear | Fixed |
| Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection | Annual |
| Date of Last Inspection | Nov 26 2010 12:00AM |
| Airframe hours since last inspection | -- |
| Airframe Hours | 2725 |
| ELT Installed | Yes |
| ELT Activated | No |
| ELT Aided Location of Event Site | No |
| ELT Type | Unknown |
| Aircraft Owner Name | OLMSTED AARON JR |
| Aircraft Owner Street Address | -- |
| Aircraft Owner City | ELLINGTON |
| Aircraft Owner State | CT |
| Aircraft Owner Country | USA |
| Aircraft Owner Zipcode | 06029-2705 |
| Operator is an individual? | No |
| Operator Name | OLMSTED AARON JR |
| Operator Same as Owner? | Yes |
| Operator Is Doing Business As | -- |
| Operator Address Same as Owner? | Yes |
| Operator Street Address | -- |
| Operator City | ELLINGTON |
| Operator State | CT |
| Operator Country | USA |
| Operator Zip code | 06029-2705 |
| 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 | BKL |
| Departure City | Cleveland |
| Departure State | OH |
| Departure Country | USA |
| Departure Time | 1630 |
| Departure Time Zone | EDT |
| Destination Same as Local Flt | -- |
| Destination Airport Code | 7B6 |
| Destination City | Warehouse Point |
| Destination State | CT |
| Destination Country | USA |
| Specific Phase of Flight | -- |
| Report sent to ICAO? | -- |
| Evacuation occurred | -- |
| Date of most recent change to record | May 2 2013 2:24PM |
| User who most recently changed record | kenj |
| Since inspection or accident | Time of Accident |
| Event Location Runway Number and Location | N/A |
| Runway Length | -- |
| Runway Width | -- |
| Sight Seeing flight | No |
| Air Medical Flight | No |
| Medical Flight | -- |