Loss of Control in Flight · NTSB ERA10FA099
PIPER PA-28-140 — Heflin, AL
| Date | December 25, 2009 |
| Location | Heflin, AL |
| Aircraft | PIPER PA-28-140 |
| Purpose of flight | Personal |
| Conditions | Night · Visual Meteorological Cond |
| Phase / occurrence | Enroute Loss of control in flight |
| Pilot age | 21 |
| Pilot total time | 26 hrs · Student / very low time |
| Time in type | 24 hrs |
| Fatalities | 1 |
Probable cause
NTSB findings
- Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Performance/control parameters-Airspeed-Not attained/maintained - C
- Personnel issues-Action/decision-Info processing/decision-Decision making/judgment-Student pilot - F
- Personnel issues-Physical-Impairment/incapacitation-Prescription medication-Student pilot - F
- Personnel issues-Physical-Impairment/incapacitation-Alcohol-Student pilot - F
- Personnel issues-Experience/knowledge-Experience/qualifications-Qualification/certification-Student pilot - F
- Environmental issues-Conditions/weather/phenomena-Light condition-Dark-Effect on personnel
- Environmental issues-Conditions/weather/phenomena-Ceiling/visibility/precip-(general)-Effect on personnel
- Personnel issues-Psychological-Personality/attitude-Self confidence-Student pilot
- Personnel issues-Experience/knowledge-Experience/qualifications-Total experience in position-Student pilot
What happened
The student pilot departed on a night cross-country flight in his recently purchased airplane to visit his girlfriend. He had not received cross-country or instrument flight training, and did not hold the appropriate endorsements for the flight. The airplane impacted terrain about 35 miles east of the departure airport along a direct route to the destination airport. Examination of the airplane and engine revealed no preexisting mechanical anomalies and, at the crash site, a lack of damage to surrounding trees and the symmetrical aft crushing of both wings indicated that the airplane impacted the ground vertically, while in a stall/spin. Witnesses and recorded weather observations revealed the presence of heavy rain and high winds in the vicinity of the accident site at the time of the accident and the student pilot's flight instructor and a friend told him not to fly on the day of the accident due to the weather.
At the time of the accident, the student pilot had accumulated 26 hours of total flight experience. Toxicology testing and evidence found in the wreckage suggested that the pilot had likely taken at least twice the prescribed dose of stimulant medications in the 40 hours preceding the accident, and likely ingested alcohol around the time of the flight. The pilot’s actions suggested impaired decision-making from use of prescription stimulants and recent alcohol use. The pilot had denied any medical conditions or medications in his application for a Federal Aviation Administration Airman Medical Certificate less than 2 months prior to the accident.