FTW01FA020

Five witnesses observed the single-engine tail wheel airplane approach and attempt to land on a highway with vehicle traffic. The airplane struck a set of electrical wires that crossed the highway and impacted the surface of the highway. Examination of the engine and airframe revealed no evidence of a mechanical problem. Toxicological testing revealed .029ug/ml diphenhydramine in the pilot's blood. Diphenhydramine is an over-the-counter antihistamine with sedative effects.

History of flight

On November 15, 2000, approximately 1525 central standard time, a Cessna 185F, N6232E, registered to and operated by the pilot, was destroyed after it impacted electrical wires and the ground while attempting to land on State Highway LA127, near Jena, Louisiana. The commercial pilot, who was the sole occupant of the airplane, was fatally injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 flight. The flight originated from Oak Grove, Louisiana, at 1450.

Five witnesses observed the airplane prior to and during the accident. Excerpts of their written statements and interviews with the NTSB investigator-in-charge are summarized below:

Witness #1, who was an employee of the pilot and was located next to the highway where the accident occurred, stated that he was talking to the pilot on a company radio when he observed the airplane make several circles around looking at the job site. He stated that the pilot's "regular" place to land was not available. He stated that the pilot told him on the radio that he was going to "look at the road." The witness tried calling on the radio again with no response so he drove out toward the road. Approaching the road, the witness saw "black smoke billowing" up in the air. The witness approached the airplane and tried to open the baggage door, but was unable to see or enter due to the smoke. The witness stated that the pilot had landed on the road before, but "further south of the wire." He added that one of the other supervisors had said that he had also seen the pilot use the road and that the pilot was aware of the wire.

Witnesses #2 and #3 were driving south in a car on LA127 in the opposite direction the airplane was landing. Witness #2 stated that she "saw the plane in the air above us," and the airplane was "not smoking." She further stated that the airplane "passed over" the car, hit the power line and "crashed." She added that she "saw [the airplane] on fire" after turning around. Witness #3 stated that she "saw the plane circling about half a mile down the road [and] the plane was coming the opposite direction we were driving and passed about ten feet over our car." She further stated that when she looked back, she observed "the power line and pole fall." Then the "plane caught on fire."

Witness #4 was stopped at the intersection of LA127 and a small crossroad. The witness observed that an airplane "appeared to be trying to land on the highway." The "plane barely missed" a white car that was headed south and then struck a "highline anchor wire" that crossed the highway. The airplane then "nosed down and hit the road." The airplane came to rest with the landing gear folded under it and the tail up in the air. Almost instantly, smoke came from the front of the airplane and the "plane caught fire." The witness "ran to the plane and attempted to extinguish the fire" along with another person he recalls was a log truck driver. They tried "to tear the door open" but had to stop due to the heat.

Witness #5, who was traveling south on the highway with his wife, "noticed a plane on the horizon." He stated that the airplane was "angling down toward the road as if it were about to land."

Personnel information

According to FAA records, the pilot's application for his most recent medical certificate, dated December 8, 1999, showed that he had accumulated a total of 12,850 flight hours, of which 175 hours were in the six months preceding the examination. The pilot's flight log books showed that the pilot had been flying single and multi-engine airplanes on a regular basis.

Aircraft information

According to entries in the airframe and engine logbooks, the tail wheel-equipped 1980 model 185F Cessna had accumulated 280 hours of service since its last annual inspection which occurred on April 1, 2000, and had a accumulated a total of 4,207 hours at the time of the accident. The normal category airplane was equipped with a 300-horsepower Continental IO-550-D-3 engine, serial number 284261-R. The engine had accumulated a total of 709 hours since new, at the time of the accident. A review of the available airframe and engine maintenance records, conducted by the NTSB investigator-in-charge, revealed no evidence of any uncorrected maintenance defects.

Meteorlogical information

The nearest weather observation facility, located 15 miles north northeast of the accident site at Esler Regional Airport, reported few clouds at 6000 feet, visibility 10 miles, and wind out of the south at 6 knots.

Wreckage and impact information

The airplane came to rest on the center of the highway about 330 feet north from a set of electrical wires that were oriented perpendicular to the road. The wires were found stretched along the highway northward. Two telephone type poles that supported the wires across the highway were "snapped" and were laying in the road.

All major structural components of the airplane and all control surfaces were identified at the site. The left and right wings were still attached to the fuselage but sustained extensive fire damage. The flaps were determined to be extended 25 to 30 degrees. The main cabin area was consumed by fire. All cockpit instrumentation and switches were destroyed. The tail wheel assembly was still attached to the empennage and the left and right main landing gear assemblies were separated from the fuselage. Wire fragments, similar to the electrical wire, were found on the landing gear support struts.

The engine and propeller were still attached to the airframe and major engine accessories were still intact. Chord wise scratches were discovered on the propeller blade tips. Circular gashes were found on the spinner. Three rows of gouges perpendicular to the road were found in the asphalt about 40 feet north of the downed wires. The gouges were "fresh" and coincided with the dimensions of the propeller blades.

Medical and pathological information

An autopsy was performed at the Jefferson Parish Forensic Center in Harvey, Louisiana, on November 17, 2000. Toxicology tests were conducted at the Civil Aero Medical Institute (CAMI), in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, on November 21, 2000. A quantity of 0.029 (ug/ml, ug/g) of diphenhydramine was detected in the pilot's blood. Diphenhydramine is commonly known by the trade name "Benadryl" and is an over-the-counter antihistamine with sedative effects, often used to treat allergy symptoms.

Toxicology tests conducted by the Jefferson County Forensic Center showed a 19% carbon monoxide level. Toxicology tests conducted at CAMI showed a 0% carbon monoxide level.

Additonal data

The wreckage was released to the owner's representative on November 17, 2000.