ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 168607
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| Date: | Saturday 9 August 2014 |
| Time: | 05:55 |
| Type: |  Cessna 150C |
| Owner/operator: | Private |
| Registration: | N7968Z |
| MSN: | 15060068 |
| Year of manufacture: | 1963 |
| Total airframe hrs: | 4925 hours |
| Engine model: | Continental O-200-A |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 2 / Occupants: 2 |
| Aircraft damage: | Destroyed |
| Category: | Accident |
| Location: | Peachtree City, near Atlanta, GA -
 United States of America
|
| Phase: | En route |
| Nature: | Private |
| Departure airport: | Peachtree City, GA (FFC) |
| Shellman Bluff, GA (1GA0) | |
| Investigating agency: | NTSB |
| Confidence Rating: |  Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
The noninstrument-rated private pilot departed for a cross-country flight in night instrument meteorological conditions (IMC). No record was found indicating that the pilot obtained an official weather briefing before the flight. GPS data indicated that, about 5 minutes after takeoff, the airplane turned back toward the departure airport. About 2 minutes later, as the airplane was flying at an altitude just above the height of the surrounding terrain (about 823 ft), it made a slight descending left turn. The airplane continued to descend, impacted a berm on the side of a gravel road and then trees, and came to rest nose down.
Postaccident examination of the wreckage did not reveal any preimpact mechanical malfunctions that would have precluded normal operation. A weather observation taken at the departure airport about the time of the accident included visibility of 6 statute miles with mist and an overcast ceiling at 600 ft above ground level (agl). A witness reported that visibility was restricted due to patchy areas of fog or mist and that the ceiling was about 300 to 400 ft agl. He added that "the sky was very dark” with little ambient light. Based on the GPS data, it is likely that the pilot was attempting to return to the airport and subsequently chose to attempt an off-airport landing due to the poor weather conditions.
Toxicological testing detected ibuprofen, lidocaine, oxycodone, oxymorphone, and salicylate in the pilot’s urine. However, none of these medications were present in the pilot’s blood at the time of the accident; therefore, impairment by the medications did not contribute to the accident. In addition, the testing revealed that the pilot had diabetes, which had not been previously diagnosed; however, it is unlikely that the pilot’s diabetes contributed to the accident.
Review of the pilot’s medical records revealed that he had received a spinal injection to treat ongoing low back pain radiating to his arms and legs the day before the accident. Although painful symptoms and these injections can cause complications, they do not affect decision making. In this case, the noninstrument rated pilot improperly decided to fly in IMC, which led to the accident. Therefore, neither the back pain nor the injection contributed to the accident.
Accident investigation:
 |
|
Sources:
NTSB
FAA register: http://registry.faa.gov/aircraftinquiry/NNum_Results.aspx?NNumbertxt=7968Z
Location
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 10-Aug-2014 15:13 | gerard57 | Added |
| 11-Aug-2014 06:25 | Geno | Updated [Aircraft type, Registration, Cn, Departure airport, Destination airport, Source] |
| 25-Aug-2014 20:04 | Aerossurance | Updated [Time, Location, Source, Narrative] |
| 21-Dec-2016 19:28 | ASN Update Bot | Updated [Time, Damage, Category, Investigating agency] |
| 30-Nov-2017 18:58 | ASN Update Bot | Updated [Other fatalities, Departure airport, Destination airport, Source, Narrative] |
| 07-Aug-2019 16:23 | madidad | Updated [Source, Narrative] |
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