# NTSB DFW06FA095: Piper/Stevens PA18A-150, N3887P, Hollandale, MS, April 5, 2006 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report - Date: April 5, 2006, 18:30 local (23:30 UTC) - Place: Hollandale, MS - Coordinates: 33.134723, -91.035003 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.1347&lon=-91.0350&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 2 fatal - Status: Completed, report June 27, 2007 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Flight Standards District Office, Jackson , MS - NTSB case key (mKey): 63446 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DFW06FA095 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/63446/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=63446 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DFW06FA095 ## Probable cause The pilots failure to maintain control of the airplane. A contributing factor was the pilots 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) - stall/spin - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause) - impairment(drugs), pilot in command (contributing factor) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled - terrain condition - ground ## Analysis The 228-hours private pilot lost control of the tailwheel-equipped airplane while maneuvering at low altitude. The airplane impacted terrain on a heading of 045 degrees in a near vertical nose down attitude. There was no post-impact fire. There were no eye witnesses to the mishap. The airplane was found by a family member when the pilot was late returning from his personal flight. Examination of the airplane did not revealed any anomalies. Flight control continuity was established to all flight controls. No discrepancies were noted with the engine that could have prevented normal engine operation. Toxicological tests were completed for carbon monoxide, cyanide, volatiles, and tested drugs. Test results were negative for carbon monoxide, cyanide, and volatiles but revealed significant amounts of Tetrahydrocannabinol (marihuana) and Tetrahydrocannabinol Carboxlic Acid (marihuana) detected in the blood and lungs. Also noted was a presence in the blood and liver of Benzoylecgonine, Ecgonine Methylester, and Anhydroecgonine Methylester which are chemicals found in the body and normally associated with use of cocaine. ## Factual narrative HISTORY OF FLIGHT On April 5, 2006, approximately 1830 central daylight time, a single-engine Piper/Stevens PA-18A-150 tailwheel equipped airplane, N3887P, was destroyed upon impact with terrain following a loss of control while maneuvering near the Longwood Flying Service private airstrip, Hollandale, Mississippi. The private pilot and his passenger were fatally injured. The airplane was corporate owned being flown by a private individual conducting a local flight. Visual meteorological conditions (VMC) prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. PERSONNEL INFORMATION The private pilot held a rating for airplane single-engine land, and was issued a first-class medical certificate on March 26, 2004, with no limitations. At the time of the accident, the pilot had accumulated a total of 228 flight hours. AIRCRAFT INFORMATION The 1988 model airplane, serial number LC001, was certificated for single pilot operation, with seating for two occupants. The aircraft showed a total time according to the logbooks and the Hobbs meter of 628 hours. METEOROLOGICAL INFORMATION At 1853 local time, Mid Delta Regional Airport, near Greenville, MS (KGLH), the closest weather reporting station located approximately 25 miles to the north, reported weather conditions as winds 140 degrees at 10 knots, visibility 10 statute miles, clear skies, temperature 23 degrees Celsius, dew point 7 degrees Celsius, and a barometric pressure at 29.92 inches of Mercury. WRECKAGE AND IMPACT INFORMATION The airplane impacted terrain on a heading of 045 degrees near wings level in a near vertical nose down attitude. There was no post-impact fire. There were no eye witnesses to the mishap. The airplane was found by a family member when the pilot was late returning from his personal flight. Examination of the wreckage did not reveal any anomalies. Flight control continuity was established to all flight controls at the accident site. No discrepancies were noted with the engine during a field teardown and inspection that could have prevented normal engine operation. MEDICAL AND PATHOLOGICAL INFORMATION An autopsy was performed on the pilot on April 6, 2006, at the Mississippi Medical Examiner's Office located in Washington County, Greenville, MS, by a medical examiner from that office. The underlying cause of death was listed as craniocerebral trauma. Toxicological testing on the pilot was performed by the FAA's Civil Aeromedical Institute (CAMI) Forensic Center, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, for carbon monoxide, cyanide, volatiles, and tested drugs. Test results were negative for carbon monoxide, cyanide, and volatiles. The tests revealed significant amounts of Tetrahydrocannabinol (marihuana) and Tetrahydrocannabinol Carboxlic Acid (marihuana) detected in the blood and lungs. Also noted was the presence in the blood and liver of Benzoylecgonine, Ecgonine Methylester, and Anhydroecgonine Methylester which are chemicals found in the body associated with use of cocaine. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION The wreckage was released to the owner's representative on April 7, 2006. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3887P](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3887P-2006-08-30), registration cancelled 2006-08-30, S/N LC001, built 1988 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper/Stevens PA18A-150 - Registry model: [Piper/Stevens PA 18 150](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-stevens-pa-18-150) (registry code 7101827) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: LC001 - Airframe hours: 2267 - Engines: Lycoming O-320 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Longwood Flying Serives, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, October 1, 2005, 45 hours before - Departed: LWD, Longwood Flying, MS ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 22; injuries: fatal; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review December 1, 2005; seat: front; toxicology performed; flight hours: 228 total, 74 in this make and model, 145 as pilot in command, 60 in the last 90 days, 9 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 140° at 10 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 45 °F - Altimeter: 29.92 inHg - Observed at: KGLH ## 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 20060405008369A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20060405008369A), Apr 5, 2006: Piper PA18150, Hollandale, MS, Destroyed, 2 fatal. (-23) Pilot lost control while maneuvering and crashed into a rice field. The accident site was approximately one mile southeast of the longwood flying… ## Docket (17 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 3, 2007, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=63446. 9.0 MB in all. - Medical Records Information (item 1, .PDF, 9 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40265377&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Medical%20Records%20Information-Master.PDF - Statement of Party Representatives to NTSB Investigation (item 2, .PDF, 75 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40475200&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Statement%20of%20Party%20Representatives%20to%20NTSB%20Investigation-Redacted.PDF - Reports from Parties to the Investigation Lycoming Engines (item 3, .PDF, 52 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40275586&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Reports%20from%20Parties%20to%20the%20Investigation%20Lycoming%20Engines-Master.PDF - Toxicological Report (item 4, .PDF, 50 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40475201&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Toxicological%20Report-Redacted.PDF - Reports from Local Agencies Local Police Report (item 5, .PDF, 121 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40475218&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Reports%20from%20Local%20Agencies%20Local%20Police%20Report-Redacted.PDF - Maps or Charts of Accident Area, Wreckage Diagrams - Accident location (item 6, .PDF, 926 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40275591&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Maps%20or%20Charts%20of%20Accident%20Area,%20Wreckage%20Diagrams%20-%20Accident%20location-Master.PDF - Release of Aircraft Wreckage, NTSB Form 6120.15 (item 7, .PDF, 85 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40475219&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Release%20of%20Aircraft%20Wreckage,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.15-Redacted.PDF - photo 1 Overview (front) (item 8, .PDF, 713 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40275593&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=photo%201%20Overview%20(front)-Master.PDF - Photo 2 Overview (10 o'clock) (item 9, .PDF, 839 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40275594&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202%20Overview%20(10%20o%27clock)-Master.PDF - Photo 3 Overview (8 o'clock) (item 10, .PDF, 829 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40275595&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%203%20Overview%20(8%20o%27clock)-Master.PDF - Photo 4 Overview (7 o'clock) (item 11, .PDF, 824 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40275596&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%204%20Overview%20(7%20o%27clock)-Master.PDF - Photo 5 Overview (6 o'clock) (item 12, .PDF, 885 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40275597&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%205%20Overview%20(6%20o%27clock)-Master.PDF - Photo 6 Overview (5 o'clock) (item 13, .PDF, 836 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40275598&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%206%20Overview%20(5%20o%27clock)-Master.PDF - Photo 7 Overview (3 o'clock) (item 14, .PDF, 737 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40275599&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%207%20Overview%20(3%20o%27clock)-Master.PDF - Photo 8 Overview (1 o'clock) (item 15, .PDF, 746 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40275600&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%208%20Overview%20(1%20o%27clock)-Master.PDF - Photo 9 Wing damage (item 16, .PDF, 895 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40275601&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%209%20Wing%20damage-Master.PDF - Photo 10 Engine Impact damage (item 17, .PDF, 427 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40275602&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%2010%20Engine%20Impact%20damage-Master.PDF 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.