# NTSB MIA94LA013: Beech A36, N888AS, Ormond Beach, FL, October 29, 1993 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: October 29, 1993, 00:00 local (04:00 UTC) - Place: Ormond Beach, FL - Location: 29.2858° N, 81.0559° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Ormond Beach, FL, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.2858&lon=-81.0559&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Unknown](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/990) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 3 fatal - Status: Completed, report November 10, 1994 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 37452 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA94LA013 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/37452/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA94LA013 ## Probable cause POOR JUDGEMENT OF THE PILOT, DUE TO CONSUMPTION OF ALCOHOL AND USE OF DRUGS, AND HIS FAILURE (OR INABILITY) TO MAINTAIN ALTITUDE (OR CLEARANCE) ABOVE WATER AT NIGHT. DARKNESS WAS A RELATED FACTOR. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with terrain/water, unknown - judgment - poor, pilot in command (cause) - impairment(alcohol), pilot in command (cause) - impairment(drugs), pilot in command (cause) - light condition - dark night (contributing factor) - terrain condition - water - altitude - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) ## Analysis THE PILOT WAS OBSERVED DEPARTING A BAR AT ABOUT 0230 WITH A TWELVE PACK OF BEER & 2 PERSONS THAT WERE LATER IDENTIFIED AS PASSENGERS OF THE AIRPLANE. HIS BODY & THOSE OF THE 2 PASSENGERS WASHED ASHORE THE NEXT DAY. MOST OF THE AIRPLANE WAS NOT RECOVERED, BUT SOME PARTS OF IT ALSO WASHED ASHORE. THESE INCLUDED AIRCRAFT SEATS THAT WERE TORN FROM THEIR RESPECTIVE TRACKS & A SECTION OF THE LEFT WING THAT BORE THE AIRCRAFT SERIAL NUMBER IN BLACK INK. TOXICOLOGY TESTS OF THE PILOT'S BLOOD WERE POSITIVE FOR ETHANOL (144 MG/DL), ACETALDEHYDE (20 MG/DL), TETRAHYDROCANNABINOL CARBOYLIC ACID (MARIJUANA/ 0.004 UG/ML), DIAZIPAM (0.16 UG/ML), NORDIAZEPAM (0.179 UG/ML), BENZOYLECGONINE (0.378 UG/ML) & HYDROCODONE (0.019 UG/ML). HIS URINE WAS POSITIVE FOR ETHANOL (227 MG/DL), ACETALDEHYDE (6 MG/DL), TETRAHYDROCANNABINOL CARBOXYLIC ACID (0.026 UG/ML), COCAINE (1.642 UG/ML), ICGONINE METHYL ESTER (0.982 MG/ML), & ACETAMINOPHEN (5.7 UG/ML). ALSO, COCAETHYLENE, OXAZEPAM, HYDROCODINE & HYDROMORPHONE WERE DETECTED IN HIS URINE. ## Factual narrative On October 29, 1993, three bodies and a small amount of airplane wreckage washed ashore in Ormond Beach, Florida, about 1400 eastern daylight time. The wreckage was that of N888AS, a Beechcraft A-36 registered to the pilot's father Boyd F.Herman, The pilot Bruce R. Herman was identified. The two other passengers were also identified. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed the previous night and no flight plan was filed. The airplane was not recovered and is presumed to be destroyed. The flight originated at an unknown time in the early morning hours the same day. The pilot was last seen leaving a bar with two females who were later identified as the passengers about 0200 hours, and purchased a 12-pack of beer. His vehicle was found in his hangar with numerous empty beer cans in and around it. No witnesses were located who observed the airplane depart nor crash. Some of the debris recovered was similar in color to N888AS, and some of the parts had the airplane serial number written on them with black marker. Postmortem examination of the pilot was conducted by the Medical Examiner, Dr. Frederick P. Hobin, who reported the cause of death to be multiple crushing traumatic injuries. Toxicological examination was conducted by the Civil Aeronautical Medical Institute, in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. The results were positive for alcohol, 144 [mg/dl] blood, and 227 [mg/dl] urine. Tetrahydrocannabinol was positive .004 [ug/ml] blood, and .026 [ug/ml] urine. The results were positive for cocaine .078 [ug/ml] blood. Multiple other drugs were identified and are noted in the results of toxicological examination attached to this report. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N888AS](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N888AS-1994-06-24), registration cancelled 1994-06-24, S/N E1365 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BEECH A36 - Registry model: [Beech A36](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-a36) (registry code 1151604) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: E-1365 - Engines: CONTINENTAL IO-550-B 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Herman, Bruce R. - Registered owner: Herman, Boyd F. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: OMN - Destination: OMN ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 41; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 700 total ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark - Wind: 230° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 66 °F, dew point 61 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: DAB, 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 19931029041139A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19931029041139A), Oct 29, 1993: Beech A36, Ormond Beach, FL, Destroyed, 3 fatal. Pilot last seen leaving bar with the two passengers at O200. Purchased beer. Wreckage in lake. Drugs/alcohol factor 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.