NTSB Factual Report

HISTORY OF FLIGHT

On July 23, 2006, about 1600 mountain standard time, a Raytheon Aircraft Company G36, N241JL, collided with a dirt berm during an aborted landing at Eagle Airpark, Bullhead City, Arizona. The pilot was operating the airplane under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. The private pilot and one passenger (seated in the aft rear seat) sustained fatal injuries. The remaining passenger (who was seated in the right front seat) sustained serious injuries. The airplane sustained substantial damage and was consumed by fire. The local personal flight originated from Eagle Airpark about 1530. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a flight plan had not been filed.

The National Transportation Safety Board investigator-in-charge (IIC) interviewed a witness, who was a pilot. He stated that on the afternoon of the accident, he heard an airplane engine start and stepped outside of his hangar to identify which airplane it was. He observed the accident airplane near the end of the taxiway, on the south end of the Airpark. He kept his eyes affixed to the airplane as it began to taxi in his direction to the departure end of runway 17. He noted that the pilot appeared to be preoccupied, as the airplane made erratic s-turns up the taxiway. The airplane veered from side to side varying in power settings, as it would increase and then decrease in speed. From observing the airplane taxi, he assumed that the pilot was a student.

The airplane began the takeoff roll and remained relatively straight on the runway centerline. When reaching about 5/8 of the way down the runway the airplane became airborne. It made a step-like climb out, where it would momentarily gain altitude and then level out. The pilot made a left crosswind departure and it appeared as if the flight was headed toward the Needles very high frequency omni-directional range (VOR) navigation system.

The witness further stated that after a short time passed he was inside his hangar when he heard the airplane at a high power setting maneuvering over the runway, as if they were buzzing the field or performing a flyby. He subsequently heard the engine noise stop and he ran outside the hangar. He observed a big plume of dust just south of the irrigation ditch at the end of runway 17.

The Safety Board IIC interviewed a bartender who was employed at an establishment (saloon) recently purchased by the pilot. She stated that pilot and rear-seat passenger (who was a double amputee) had celebrated their birthdays together the day prior to the accident, by having a party at the pilot's saloon. The night of the party it was decided that as a birthday present to the rear-seat passenger, the pilot would take him for a flight to see the Colorado River the following day.

The bartender further reported that on the day of the accident, the pilot arrived at the saloon about 1030. He appeared to be in a good mood and refreshed; there was no evidence that he was hung-over. While he was at the bar, she served the pilot four alcoholic beverages (two shots and two mixed drinks) and he never appeared to be intoxicated; the rear-seat passenger had about five alcoholic drinks and was showing the affects of alcohol consumption. The front-seat passenger arrived at the saloon about 30 minutes before the three of them left for the flight; she served him one drink and one shot. They all left the bar together about 1400 to 1500 and were picked up by a designated driver. The pilot indicated that the flight would be about an hour long.

During a telephone conversation with the Safety Board IIC, the designated driver who transported the pilot and passengers to the Airpark from the saloon, stated that the pilot did not appear to be intoxicated. After arriving at the hangar, the pilot started the engine and maneuvered the airplane onto the taxiway. He told the driver that he would call him after they landed to get a ride back to the saloon.

A paramedic for the Mohave Valley Fire Department recalled responding to the accident about 10 to 15 minutes after it occurred. He stated that when he arrived the front-seat passenger was outside of the airplane and appeared to have suffered second-degree burns. Before being given Morphine, the patient was asked if he had consumed any alcohol that day. He replied that he had consumed "a couple of beers and a couple of shots." The paramedic stated that he could smell alcohol on the breath of the patient.

The Safety Board IIC interviewed the sole surviving (front-seat) passenger about 20 days after the accident occurred. He stated that the day of the accident he arrived at the pilot's saloon to discuss business with the pilot. Over a period of 20 minutes, both of the men consumed an alcohol beverage. The pilot stated that he was intending to take the rear-seat passenger on a plane ride before leaving back to his home in Orange County, California, which he planned to do later that evening. The pilot asked the surviving passenger if he would like to accompany them, to which he accepted the invitation. All three men received a ride to the airport by the bar's designated driver.

Upon arriving at the airplane, the pilot performed a preflight inspection and they all boarded the airplane. He sat in the right front seat, and the other passenger was positioned in the rear-left seat. He added that his headset did not work correctly and he could not hear the pilot in the headsets, rather they had to yell at one another to communicate. All men put on their respective seat belts and shoulder harnesses; no safety briefing was given. The conditions at the airport were very hot and there was a crosswind.

The surviving passenger recalled that flight departed normally and the pilot maneuvered the airplane over the river and town for about 20 to 25 minutes. The pilot then asked if the passengers wanted to continue to Orange County with him, to which he replied that he had to get back to the airport. The airplane made an approach to the airport and touched down on the runway over halfway down the surface. The airplane touched down and bounced back airborne. The airplane then encountered a gust of wind that pushed it to the right of the runway centerline. The airplane continued down the runway about 2 to 3 feet above ground level (agl) until reaching near the end of the runway surface where it touched back down. Although the pilot did not communicate with him, the surviving passenger thought that the pilot decided to abort the landing and attempt to go-around again.

The surviving passenger further stated that the airplane continued into the brush and impacted a dirt berm. The next memory he had of the accident sequence was after the airplane had come to rest in the mud. The right side of the airplane had become engulfed in flames and he looked over to the pilot who was hunched over in his seat and appeared to be unconscious. The rear-seated passenger then yelled at the surviving passenger to help him egress the airplane. After he exited, the surviving passenger attempted to open the back door that was on the right side of the airplane. He tried to open the door to no avail; he attributed his inability to open the door to it being locked from the inside. There was a subsequent explosion and the surviving passenger was thrown back (lifted airborne) aft of the tail. The airplane was consumed by fire.

PILOT INFORMATION

Flight Experience

According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Airman and Medical records, the pilot held a private pilot certificate with airplane ratings for single engine land and instrument flight. The pilot's only medical examination performed by an Aviation Medical Examiner was conducted on November 11, 2003, when the pilot applied for and was issued a third-class airmen medical and student pilot certificate. No personal flight records were recovered for the pilot.

As part of an application for insurance on the accident airplane, the pilot completed a "Pilot Experience Form," that was dated February 01, 2006. On the form he indicated that he had amassed 420 hours of total flight experience, of which 270 hours was conducted in the pervious 12 months. The form revealed that he had acquired 94.6 hours of flight time in Bonanza G36 series airplanes. The pilot made a notation on the form that he had previously been convicted of a traffic violation consisting of a Driving Under the Influence (DUI) offense in May 01, 2001; he did not note any other convictions or violations.

Alcohol History

A review of the pilot's medical application revealed that the pilot checked the box "yes" in response to question 18.v. "History of (1) any conviction(s) involving driving while intoxicated by, while impaired by, or while under the influence of alcohol or a drug; or (2) history of any conviction(s) or administrative action(s) involving an offense(s) which resulted in the denial, suspension, cancellation, or revocation of driving privileges or which resulted in attendance at an educational or rehabilitation program." In the "explanations" area following that box, the pilot wrote "May, 2001 DUI". The pilot checked the box "no" in response to question 18.n., which queried if the applicant had, or currently has substance dependence. The FAA Aerospace Medical Certification Division records contained no indications of either a request for or receipt of additional documentation of the pilot's arrest or prior alcohol history.

The Safety Board IIC obtained the arrest report for the DUI conviction the pilot listed on his medical application. The Santa Ana Police Department arrested the pilot for driving while intoxicated at 2355 on May 05, 2001. A review of the report indicated that the pilot refused a field sobriety test, opting to take a blood test instead (the sample was obtained about an hour after the initial arrest). The Forensic Alcohol Examination Report associated with the blood test indicated the pilot's blood alcohol concentration (BAC) was 0.28 percent (wt/vol) at the time of testing.

A review was conducted of the pilot's Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Interstate Identification Index (III) record [a compilation of an individual's criminal identification, arrest, conviction, and incarceration information that contains information voluntarily reported by law enforcement agencies across the country, as well as information provided by other federal agencies]. The pilot had a conviction for the attempt and conspiracy to distribute cocaine in 1991. He additionally had two convictions in Florida, one of which was a DUI in 1994, and the other was for water skiing while intoxicated in 1995. The report also cited the DUI in 2001 that the pilot had reported to the FAA.

AIRCRAFT INFORMATION

No airplane or engine maintenance records were located. A review was conducted of the material maintained by the FAA in the Aircraft and Registry files for this airplane. The Raytheon Aircraft Company G36 single engine airplane, serial number E3644, was manufactured in 2005. Records indicate that the pilot, the first and only owner, purchased the airplane from the manufacturer in December 2005. The engine was a Teledyne Continental Motors IO-550B (39), serial number 687085.

While no formal maintenance logbooks as such were located, the Safety Board IIC found a cluster of bound papers that were mostly burnt within the wreckage of the cockpit. One of the papers had an entry for the airworthiness certificate inspection, which was signed as completed on December 08, 2005, at an airplane total time of 3.6 hours. A partially consumed work order was additionally found, that indicated an engine oil change was completed on January 25, 2006, at a total time of 66.6 hours.

Airplane Doors

According to the accident airplane's applicable Airplane Flight Manual (AFM) and Maintenance Manual (MM), the G36 series airplane is equipped with two main egress doors: the cabin door and utility doors. The forward cabin door is located on the right side of the fuselage, adjacent to the front passenger seat. The door is hinged on the forward portion of the door at two points, with a stop located on the bottom edge. It is opened from inside the cabin by depressing a lock button and a simultaneous clockwise rotation of the door handle. The utility exit is located on the aft right side of the fuselage, and consists of two doors. The forward door is hinged on the forward side and the aft door is hinged on its aft side.

METEOROLOGICAL INFORMATION

A routine aviation weather report (METAR) for Needles, California, 7.3 nautical miles from Eagle Airpark on a bearing of 183 degrees, reported that at 1556 the temperature was about 117 degrees Fahrenheit with an altimeter setting of 29.67 inHg; the wind was reported from 110 degrees at 6 knots.

Utilizing the aforementioned weather information and the airport elevation of 485 feet mean sea level (msl), the density altitude at the time of the accident was computed by a Safety Board computer program to be approximately 4,627 feet msl.

The wind conditions in Bullhead City were reported by a local station to be from the south at 3 miles per hour (mph) gusting to 18 mph at the time of the accident.

WRECKAGE AND IMPACT

The Safety Board IIC performed an on-scene wreckage documentation and initial examination on July 24, 2006, the day following the accident.

The accident site was located adjacent to Eagle Airpark, about 320 feet from the departure end of runway 17, and just west of the extended runway centerline. The global positioning satellite (GPS) coordinates for the main wreckage were approximately 34 degrees 52.86 minutes north latitude by 114 degrees 36.97 minutes west longitude. The terrain was characteristically flat with vegetation typical of the Arizona/Nevada desert. The initial impact sites were located in an area dividing the airpark from agricultural crops. Situated south of the airpark was a dirt berm about 10 feet in height and inclined at a 45-degree angle. Immediately south and directly adjacent to the berm was a 10.5-foot-wide irrigation canal, which was oriented in an east-west direction. There were two haystacks about 13.3 feet in height located about 12 feet south of the irrigation canal. They were positioned on either side of the extended centerline with 150 feet separating them laterally. The main wreckage site was about 56 feet south of the irrigation canal in a cotton field composed of small crop and soft muddy soil.

The first identified point of contact consisted of runway tire markings at the departure end of runway 17. In the terrain south of the runway's end, there were two parallel indentations in the surrounding brush and dirt. The indentations were continuous for 354 feet and consistent in shape and size to the main landing gear. Numerous brush plants appeared to have recently been severed in areas in-between the indentations. The marking from the runway aligned with the indentations in the brush, all of which were oriented in a north-south direction.

The principle impact crater was located on the dirt berm south of the severed brush, and identified by three parallel, elongated grooves. The grooves were additionally on a north-south orientation and the outer markings aligned with the runway and brush markings to the north. The indentations were apparent at the base of the berm and continued upslope until reaching the plateau. The nose gear was imbedded adjacent to the middle marking on the berm, along with several shards of the nose structure undercarriage.

The main wreckage was situated about 430 feet south of the departure end of runway 17 on a southerly bearing; the aircraft nose was pointing to the west. The main wreckage consisted of all major components of the airframe, engine, and all of the control surfaces. The cowl, engine, spinner, and 3-bladed propeller came to rest about a 90-degree angle to the longitudinal axis of the fuselage. The wings were partially attached at their respective fuselage surfaces with the areas not attached being a result of fire consumption. The right main landing gear was consumed by fire and located near the most heavily burned area, under the inboa

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilot's misjudged distance and speed that led to a long landing, and his inadequate recovery from a bounced landing, all due to the effects of impairment from alcohol consumption, which resulted in an in-flight collision with terrain during an aborted landing attempt. A contributing factor was the Federal Aviation Administration's failure to identify existing evidence of substance (alcohol) dependence in the pilot due to an inadequate and incomplete process of screening medical applications.