# NTSB CHI85FA137: Piper PA-24, N7241P, Toledo, OH, March 13, 1985

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: March 12, 1985, 20:08 local (Mar 13, 1985, 01:08 UTC)
- Place: Toledo, OH
- Coordinates: 41.679744, -83.529197 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.6797&lon=-83.5292&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 12821
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI85FA137
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/12821/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI85FA137

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of control - in flight, approach
  - judgment - poor, pilot in command (cause)
  - impairment(drugs), pilot in command (cause)
  - light condition - night (contributing factor)
  - became lost/disoriented - inadvertent, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - visual/aural perception, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - aircraft handling - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - spatial disorientation, pilot in command (cause)
  - descent - inadvertent
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent

## Analysis

THE PLT WAS OBSVD TAKING MEDICATION WITHIN 2 HRS BFR FLT. A WITNESS IDENTIFIED 1 PILL AS DARVOCET-N 100, SINCE SHE TOOK THE SAME MEDICATION. WHEN THE PLT STARTED THE ENG, IT WENT TO A VERY HI RPM, AS IF THE THROTTLE WAS TOO FAR OPEN. WHILE TAXIING TO TAKEOFF, THE ACFT NEARLY HIT A PARKED ACFT, WENT OFF THE TAXIWAY & CAME ALARMINGLY CLOSE TO A TRACTOR. ON A LOCAL FLT TO A NEARBY ARPT AT NGT, THE PLT'S SPEACH WAS SLURRED & ERRATIC, & HE COULD NOT FIND THE DESTN ARPT. TWR PSNL AT THE DESTN ARPT IDENTIFIED THE ACFT BY USING THEIR BRITE RADAR & COULD CLEARLY SEE THE ACFT LGTS. THEY TRIED TO VECTORTHE ACFT TO THE ARPT, BUT THE PLT DID NOT FLW DRCTNS. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE ACFT IMPACTED THE GND NEAR THE EDGE OF A FLOODEDFIELD, WHILE DSCNDG WITH THE GEAR EXTENDED, APRX 5 MI SW OF THE ARPT. AN UNIDENTIFIED BARBITUATE WAS FND IN THE PLT'S GASTRIC CONTENTS. HIS DOCTOR HAD PRESCRIBED TALWIN & DARVOCET-N 100 FOR BACK PAIN. THE MEDICINE COULD HAVE CAUSED DIS- ORIENTATION & DROWINESS. TOX CHK OF HIS BLOOD WAS NEG FOR DRUGS, ALCOHOL & CARBON MONOXIDE. INSUF URINE FOR DRUG CHK.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N7241P](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7241P-1986-03-19), registration cancelled 1986-03-19, S/N 24-2415 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-24
- Registry model: [Piper PA-24](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-24) (registry code 7102402) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 24-2415
- Airframe hours: 2609
- Engines: LYCOMING O-540-A1A5 250 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Richard A. Sypert
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, October 1, 1984, 135 hours before
- Departed: TDZ, TOLEDO, OH
- Destination: TOL
- Airport: TOL, Toledo Express

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 61; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 1,900 total

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/bright
- Wind: 270° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Temperature: 39 °F, dew point 27 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: TOL, 7 nm away

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19850312011139A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19850312011139A), Mar 12, 1985: Piper PA24, Toledo, OH, Destroyed. Aircraft impacted ground at night nose wheel first. Pilot had erratic behavior due to consumption of painkillers.

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

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