# NTSB CHI98LA143: Alon A-2, N5482E, Cedar Hills, MO, May 10, 1998 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 10, 1998, 14:30 local (19:30 UTC) - Place: Cedar Hills, MO - Coordinates: 38.350776, -90.639877 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.3508&lon=-90.6399&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 2 fatal - Status: Completed, report April 6, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 10868 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI98LA143 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/10868/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI98LA143 ## Probable cause the failure of the pilot to maintain airplane control due to alcohol impairment. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, maneuvering - aircraft control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - impairment(alcohol), pilot in command (cause) - remedial action - not performed, pilot in command - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled - terrain condition - ground ## Analysis Witnesses reported the airplane was circling a home at an altitude between 700 and 1,000 feet above the ground. One witness said the airplane was losing altitude while it was maneuvering. Another witness said the airplane was '...flying at a slow rate of speed, making [an] approximate 30-degree turn. The engine was running when the right wing stalled, turning the airplane upside down. The plane then nose dived to the ground.' The toxicological report reported 112 (mg/dL, mg/hg) of Ethanol was detected in the pilot's urine sample. The report stated that 84 (mg/dL, mg/hg) of ethanol was detected in the vitreous fluids examined. No mechanical anomalies were found with the engine, airframe or control system that would prevent normal flight. ## Factual narrative On May 10, 1998, at 1430 central daylight time (cdt), an Alon A-2, N5482E, piloted by a private pilot, was destroyed during a collision with the ground and post-impact fire. The 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight was not operating on a flight plan. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The pilot and passenger were fatally injured. The flight departed Columbia, Illinois, at 1410 cdt. The Jefferson County Missouri, Sheriff's Department deputy conducted interviews with witnesses who observed the airplane's maneuvering, descent, and ground collision. According to the deputy's report, the pilot's son said his father circled his home three times. He said that when the third circle was in process, the engine began to "...cut out and miss." According to the report, the pilot's son said his father was having trouble keeping the airplane in the air. The son said his father's airplane passed over his home, turned sideways, struck trees near his home and crashed onto the ground. One witness said, "The plane appeared to be having trouble climbing in the air." As the airplane passed over the son's home, the witness said it "...banked turning sideways." According to the witness, the airplane was losing altitude as it circled the home for the last time. Another witness said N5482E "...circled the property several times, each time it got lower. On the last pass it hit the tops of my trees then crashed." A third witness said the airplane was "...flying under 1,000 feet, flying at a slow rate of speed, making [an] approximate 30- degree turn. The engine was running when the right wing stalled, turning the plane upside down. The plane then nose dived to the ground." The last witness statment said the airplane was "...circling about 700 to 800 feet above when in a banking turn he seemed to lose it. The plane kind of did a nose dive." The Federal Aviation Administration Principal Maintenance Inspector examined N5482E's wreckage. He stated there were no mechanical anomalies with the engine, airframe, or flight control system that would have prevented normal flight. The Federal Aviation Administration's Civil Aeromedical institute conducted a toxicological examination on the pilot. According to their report there was no carbonmonixde, drugs, or cyanide in the toxicologicl samples examined. The report stated there was 112 (mg/dL), mg/hg) ETHANOL detected in the urine, 84 (mg/dL, mg/hg) ETHANOL was detected in the vitreous fluids, 37 (mg/dL, mg/hg) ETHANOL was detected in the blood sample, 5 and 43 (mg/dL, mg/hg) ACETALDEHYDE was detected in the urine and blood respectively. The pilot's autopsy was conducted by Dr. Mary Case, Chief Medical Examinaer, Jefferson County, Missouri. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5482E](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5482E-2013-04-18), registration cancelled 2013-04-18, S/N A-16, built 1965 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: ALON A-2 - Registry model: [Alon A2](https://openairdocs.org/model/alon-a2) (registry code 0540102) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental C90 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-c90-series) (registry code 17009, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: A-16 - Engines: CONTINENTAL C-90 90 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Raymond A. Heberer - Departed: H49, COLUMBIA, IL ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 71; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 4,600 total ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 40° at 12 knots, gusting 17 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 4,800 ft broken - Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 54 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: STL, 20 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 19980510008549A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980510008549A), May 10, 1998: Univar A2ALON, Cedar Hills, MO, Destroyed, 2 fatal. Entered accelerated stall on pullup from buzzing a residence. Struck trees and burned. Had high level alcohol. (.4)witnesses reported the airplane was circling… 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.