# NTSB MIA88FA254: Cessna 172E, N5555T, Floweree, MS, August 13, 1988

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: August 13, 1988, 09:30 local (14:30 UTC)
- Place: Floweree, MS
- Coordinates: 32.319499, -90.870384 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.3195&lon=-90.8704&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Unknown](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/990) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report July 18, 1990
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 32036
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA88FA254
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/32036/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA88FA254

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - in flight, unknown
  - airspeed(vs) - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - stall - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
  - impairment(drugs), pilot in command (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

THE STUDENT PILOT DEPARTED EARLY IN THE MORNING AND WAS NOT FOUND UNTIL THE NEXT AFTERNOON. THERE WERE NO WITNESSES TO THE ACCIDENT. THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTED THE GROUND IN A 50 DEGREE NOSE DOWN ANGLE AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED WITH EVIDENCE OF AIRCRAFT ROTATION AROUND THE LONGITUDINAL AXIS. A TOXICOLOGICAL EXAMINATION REVEALED THE PRESENCE OF A THERAPEUTIC LEVEL, 0.2 UG/ML OF DIAZEPAM, (VALIUM) IN THE PILOT'S BLOOD. IN ADDITION 56 NG/ML OF MARIJUANA METABOLITE WERE FOUND IN THE URINE AND 27 NG/ML OF 9-CARBOXY-THC, THE PRINCIPAL METABOLITE OF TETRAHYDROCANNABINOL WHICH IS THE PRINCIPAL PSYCHOACTIVE CONSTITUENT OF MARIJUANA, WERE FOUND IN THE PILOTS BLOOD. THE DETECTED CONCENTRATION OF MARIJUANA METABOLITE IN BLOOD IS ASSOCIATED WITH MARIJUANA USE WITHIN THE PRIOR HALF DAY; AND THE COMBINATION OF VALIUM AND RECENT MARIJUANA USE MAY RESULT IN AN ADDITIVE EXTENT OF IMPAIRMENT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N5555T](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5555T-1989-09-19), registration cancelled 1989-09-19, S/N 17251455 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172E
- Registry model: [Cessna 172E](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172e) (registry code 2072412) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 172-51455
- Airframe hours: 2711
- Engines: CONTINENTAL O-300-D 145 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Singleton, James K.
- Registered owner: James K Singleton
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, June 5, 1988, 7 hours before
- Departed: VKS, VICKSBURG, MS

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 26; student; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 62 total, 32 in this make and model, 33 as pilot in command, 2 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 73 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: JAN, 41 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 19880813032449A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19880813032449A), Aug 13, 1988: Cessna 172E, Floweree, MS, Destroyed, 1 fatal. High speed ground impact en route. No mechanical or weather problems. Possible loss of control from use of drugs.

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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