VFR into IMC · NTSB ERA15FA066
PIPER PA28 — Sommerville, TN
| Date | December 2, 2014 |
| Location | Sommerville, TN |
| Aircraft | PIPER PA28 |
| Purpose of flight | Personal |
| Conditions | Night · Instrument Meteorological Cond |
| Phase / occurrence | Maneuvering Loss of control in flight |
| Pilot age | 53 |
| Pilot total time | 505 hrs · Building experience |
| Time in type | 505 hrs |
| Fatalities | 1 |
Probable cause
NTSB findings
- Personnel issues-Action/decision-Info processing/decision-Decision making/judgment-Pilot - C
- Personnel issues-Psychological-Perception/orientation/illusion-Spatial disorientation-Pilot - C
- Environmental issues-Conditions/weather/phenomena-Ceiling/visibility/precip-Clouds-Effect on operation - C
- Environmental issues-Conditions/weather/phenomena-Ceiling/visibility/precip-Drizzle/mist-Effect on operation - C
- Personnel issues-Task performance-Use of equip/info-Aircraft control-Pilot - C
- Personnel issues-Physical-Impairment/incapacitation-Alcohol-Pilot - F
- Personnel issues-Physical-Impairment/incapacitation-Prescription medication-Pilot - F
What happened
According to a family member, the noninstrument-rated private pilot was planning to refuel the airplane on the evening of the accident. After purchasing fuel, he subsequently departed in night instrument meteorological conditions, which included low clouds and mist. A witness heard the airplane flying overhead and then sounds associated with increased engine power, followed by a loud crash. The airplane impacted a heavily wooded area about 0.75 mile from the departure airport and was destroyed by impact forces and a postcrash fire. Examination of the airframe and engine did not reveal any anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. Dark night instrument meteorological conditions can lead to spatial disorientation, particularly for a noninstrument-rated pilot. In addition, the wreckage distribution and the witness observation of increasing engine noise and the wreckage are consistent with the pilot losing control of the airplane due to spatial disorientation.
The pilot's toxicology results identified ethanol at 0.109% in muscle tissue and 0.039% in brain tissue. Although some of the ethanol may have been produced postmortem, it is likely that some was ingested before the accident. In addition, chlordiazepoxide (a prescription medication for the treatment of anxiety) and its metabolite, nordiazepam, were detected in the liver. It is likely the combined effects of chlordiazepoxide and ethanol significantly impaired the pilot's executive functioning, judgment, and decision-making, leading to his decision to fly in weather that he was unprepared to manage.