MIA98LA090

NTSB accident investigation · Cessna 337 · Raymond, MS · February 28, 1998

Accident · Serious injuriesLimited investigationFinal report
Date
February 27, 1998, 21:55 local (Feb 28, 1998, 03:55 UTC)
Place
Raymond, MS
Injuries
1 serious, 2 minor
Damage
Destroyed
Phase of flight
Takeoff
Aircraft
N1287MCessna 337
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Night/dark
Status
Completed · report October 30, 1998
Report
Approved by Office Director
FAA report
19980227002199A
Case key
38466

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

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Probable cause

The NTSB’s determination of the probable cause, and any contributing factors.

the pilot passenger's impairment of judgment and performance due to alcohol, and control interference by the pilot passenger, which resulted in a loss of aircraft control and subsequent in-flight collision with the runway and trees.

Analysis

The pilot-in-command (PIC), who was sitting in the left front seat, stated that after the airplane landed, he planned on terminating the flight. According to the PIC, during landing rollout, the 2nd pilot (pilot rated passenger in the right front seat) said '...lets go again...' and applied full power. The PIC said the airplane veered left, porpoised out of ground effect, and settled back to the ground nose first, striking the propeller. The airplane then became airborne again and collided with trees at the departure end of the runway. The PIC stated that, 'he was unsure who was flying the airplane.' Two beer cans and a plastic drinking mug were found at the accident site. A toxicology test of the 2nd pilot's blood (at 0250 local time) showed an alcohol level of (8.0 mg/dl).

Factual narrative

On February 27, 1998, about 2155 central standard time, a Cessna 337, N1287M, registered to Marc Inc., crashed during takeoff at the Raymond Airport, in Raymond, Mississippi, while on a Title 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed. The airplane was destroyed. The private-rated pilot-in-command and one passenger received minor injuries. The commercial-rated second pilot received serious injuries. The flight originated from the same airport, at 2120.

The pilot-in-command, sitting in the front left seat, stated that after the airplane landed, he planned on terminating the flight. During landing rollout the second pilot, sitting in the front right seat, applied full power, the airplane lifted off, and settled back to the ground nose first, striking the propeller. The airplane again became airborne and collided with trees at the end of the runway. The pilot-in-command stated, "he was unsure who was flying the airplane."

According to the FAA Inspector's statement, "...we [the FAA], along with the Sheriffs Department found 1 beer can about 2 yards from the aircraft, 1 beer can with burn marks on it, about 18-20 yards from impact, 1 plastic drinking mug about 35 yards west of impact." The inspector's office requested any blood work done on the two pilots that would show percent by weight of alcohol in the blood. On March 27, 1998, the following report was received by the FAA referance the pilot in the right seat, from tests performed at the Delta Regional Medical Center, "...which shows 8.0 mg/dl, which I [FAA Inspector] understand to be the equivalent of .008%." On April 3, 1998, the inspector received records on the left seat pilot from the University of Mississippi Medical Center. According to the FAA Inspector, "...these records do not show any blood alcohol test being taken."

Sequence of events

NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.

Loss of control - on ground/waterTakeoff
Light condition - dark night
Control interference - improperPilot passengerCause
Impairment(alcohol)Pilot passengerCause
Directional control - not maintainedPilot passengerCause
Porpoise/pilot-induced oscillation - inadvertentPilot passengerCause
In flight collision with objectTakeoff
Object - tree(s)

Aircraft

Registration
N1287M
Reported as
Cessna 337
Category
Airplane
Serial number
33701287
Engine
Lycoming IO-360, 225 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Destroyed
Fire
On-Ground
Flight
Personal · Part 91
Registered owner
Marc Inc.
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal
Departed
M16
Airport
M16 · John Bell Williams, runway 30, 3,992 × 75 ft, asphalt

Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

Role
Pilot
Age
27
Certificate
Private
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
Medical
Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
Seat
Left
Flight hours
150 total · 1 in this make and model · 125 as pilot in command · 50 in the last 90 days · 20 in the last 30 days · 3 in the last 24 hours

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Night/dark
Visibility
10 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
8,500 ft overcast
Temperature
52 °F, dew point 46 °F
Altimeter
29.00 inHg
Observed at
JAN, 18 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.