NTSB Factual Report

HISTORY OF FLIGHT On June 19, 1996, at 0807 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-31-325, N62852, impacted the ground while executing a missed approach after a localizer approach to runway 20 at the Wright Brothers Memorial Airport, Dayton, Ohio. The private pilot/owner, the sole occupant, was fatally injured and the airplane was destroyed. The flight originated at approximately 0700 eastern daylight time from the Andrews University Airpark in Berrien Springs, Michigan. An instrument flight plan had been filed and instrument meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight. The flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91.

The parents of the private pilot/owner, stated that they drove their son to their home shortly after he arrived at Andrews University Airpark, late in the afternoon on the day prior to the accident. They stated that they stayed up with their son until approximately 0100 on the morning of the accident. The parents stated that their son, who was a doctor, told them that he had to be back in Dayton, Ohio to have new fuel cells installed in the airplane and that he had appointments that morning at his clinic. The private pilot took off at 0700 that morning.

Upon his arrival in the local area, the FAA Air Traffic Controller cleared the pilot for a Localizer approach to runway 20 and switched the pilot to the unicom frequency. A witness stated that he was standing at the flight operations desk at the airport and heard the pilot report on the unicom frequency that he was at "TALAC", which is the final approach fix for the Localizer approach to runway 20. The witness stated that because of the fog and low ceilings, he went outside to see if the airplane made it into the airport. This witness stated that he never saw the airplane from where he was standing, but the sound of the airplane appeared to be coming from directly over the terminal building. In his statement, the witness said that he called the Automated Surface Observation System, which was new to the airport and being tested at the time of the accident. At the time the called was placed, the ASOS recorded the ceiling as 100 feet and the visibility as 3/4 of a mile. Other witnesses stated that they were barely able to see the bottom of the airplane as it flew overhead near the terminal. All witnesses stated that the engines sounded normal when the airplane flew by.

The missed approach instructions for the Localizer approach to runway 20 are to climb to 2500 feet and then a left turn via Midwest VHF Omni-Direntional Range (VOR) to intercept the 292 radial to PETRO intersection and hold. The radar data reviewed showed that the airplane passed the airport at a time of approximately 0805:05 locally, at which time the airplane's altitude dropped slightly from the minimum descent altitude and then showed an erratic climb to 2500 feet followed quickly by a 500 foot drop shown on the last radar return at 0806:24. During this same interval, the airplane's ground speed steadily decreased until the last radar return showed the airplane's ground speed below 50 knots. A positional plot of the airplane through this interval showed the airplane heading in a southerly direction until it reversed course with a very small ground radius turn, and was heading in the opposite direction at 0806:10. Radar contact with the airplane was lost at 0806:24.

PERSONNEL INFORMATION The pilot's logbook showed that he obtained his private pilot's license in April, 1992 in a single engine land airplane. The logbook showed that he obtained his instrument rating in November, 1992 and then received his multi-engine land rating in May, 1993. Once the multi-engine land rating was obtained, the pilot flew approximately 90% of his flight time in the accident airplane.

The pilot's logbook showed that a Biennial Flight Review was conducted in May, 1995, with three simulator flights and two actual flights completed before the instructor signed the logbook. The flight instructor who administered the Biennial Flight Review stated that he would not sign off the pilot's instrument competency due to the pilot's performance during the simulators and flights. The logbook showed that two weeks later at another airport in a different state, the private pilot took an instrument competency flight in a non complex single engine airplane only.

AIRCRAFT INFORMATION The airplane's certification and registration were current. The airplane was maintained in accordance with the appropriate Federal Air Regulations. No anomalies were found in the engines' and airframe logbooks. METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS The weather obtained from the automated surface observation system located on the Wright Brothers Memorial Airport, which was under testing at the time of the accident, recorded the local weather as being: Measured 100 feet overcast; visibility- 1 mile fog; temperature- 71 degrees Fahrenheit; dewpoint- 70 degrees Fahrenheit; winds- 190 degrees at 4 knots; altimeter-29.85.

WRECKAGE AND IMPACT INFORMATION The ground scars created by the airplane indicate that the right wing impacted the ground initially, sending engine nacelle doors and other debris in a 340 degree magnetic bearing and a distance of 40 to 150 feet from the wreckage. The fuselage came to rest facing a magnetic heading of 160 degrees. The wreckage indicated that the airplane hit the ground in approximately 40 degree nose low, right wing down attitude, and was consumed by fire shortly after impact.

The airplane wreckage was resting on the bottom of the fuselage with its wings still attached but destroyed by fire. The cabin and cockpit area were destroyed by fire. The empennage was intact but sustained impact and fire damaged. The engines were partially buried with the propellers still attached. An on scene examination of the remaining airframe showed no abnormalities. The engines were removed and examined at a nearby airport. Continuity in both engines was confirmed with no anomalies found.

MEDICAL AND PATHOLOGICAL INFORMATION A postmortem examination was performed at the Montgomery County Ohio Coroner's Office on June 19, 1996 at 1145 a.m. The examination was conducted by Lee D. Lehman, Ph.D., MD, Deputy Coroner.

A Forensic Toxicology Fatal Accident Report was conducted by the Federal Aviation Administration, U.S. Department of Transportation, Mike Monroney Aeronautical Center in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. The report was signed by Dennis V. Canfield, Ph.D., Manager Toxicology and Accident Research Laboratory. Immunoassay and chromatography were used to screen for abused drugs. GC/Mass Spec, or GC/FTIR, is used to confirm most positive results. The results were as follows: * 0.005 ug/ml Tetrahydrocannibinol (Marihuana) detected in Blood * 0.013 ug/ml Tetrahydrocannibinol Carboxylic Acid (Marihuana) detected in Blood * 0.017 ug/ml Tetrahydrocannibinol Carboxylic Acid (Marihuana) detected in Kidney Fluid

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION The wreckage was release to David E. Pearson of Aviation Adjusting Associates of Mount Vernon, Ohio on June 21, 1996.

NTSB Probable Cause

the pilot's impairment of judgment and performance due to drugs which led to spatial disorientation and a loss of aircraft control. The weather was a factor.