- Date
- August 10, 1988, 12:15 local (17:15 UTC)
- Place
- Redkey, IN
- Injuries
- 1 fatal
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N25561Continental Copters MK-5
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report October 16, 1990
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19880810033729A
- Case key
- 13919
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
Physical impairment of the pilot due to drugs which resulted in a misjudged approach and subsequent contact with trees during the approach to an aerial application swath run.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The accident occurred during an areial application flt. After a reversal turn to make a swath run, the tail rotor struck a tree at the edge of the field. The helicopter entered an uncontrolled descent and crashed in field. Toxicology revealed high concentration of the sedative antihistamine diphenhydramine in both the pilot's blood & urine. Interpretive comments accompanying the toxicology report stated that he blood concentration present would most probably be associated with significant drowsiness.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N25561
- Reported as
- Continental Copters MK-5
- Category
- Helicopter
- Serial number
- TC-TWH-1
- Engine
- Lycoming O-435, 200 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Fire
- On-Ground
- Flight
- Aerial application · Part 137
- Registered owner
- John W. Hinshaw
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Restricted (Special)
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 42
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Center
- Toxicology
- Performed
- Flight hours
- 3,074 total
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 210° at 2 knots
- Visibility
- 4 statute miles
- Temperature
- 90 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.
Other investigations on N25561 · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.