# NTSB NYC89FA099: Piper PA-32R-300, N301WA, Southbridge, MA, March 12, 1989

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: March 11, 1989, 21:45 local (Mar 12, 1989, 02:45 UTC)
- Place: Southbridge, MA
- Location: 42.0751° N, 72.0334° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Southbridge, MA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.0751&lon=-72.0334&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed, report July 23, 1991
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 36277
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC89FA099
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/36277/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC89FA099

## Probable cause

POOR JUDGEMENT OF THE PILOT BY FLYING WHILE PHYSICALLY IMPAIRED BY ALCOHOL,  AND HIS CONTINUED VFR FLIGHT INTO INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS (IMC).  RELATED FACTORS WERE:  THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT PLANNING/PREPARATION, DARK NIGHT, ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS, AND TREES AT THE ACCIDENT SITE.

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, cruise - normal
  - judgment - poor, pilot in command (cause)
  - impairment(alcohol), pilot in command (cause)
  - preflight planning/preparation - inadequate, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - light condition - dark night (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - snow (contributing factor)
  - vfr flight into imc - continued, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with object, maneuvering
  - object - tree(s) (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE PLT & PAX TOOK OFF AT ABOUT 2100 EST ON A VFR FLT FROM NEWPORT, RI, TO SOUTHBRIDGE, MA. ABOUT 33 MIN LATER, THE PLT CONTACTED BRADLEY APCH CTL & REQUESTED ASSISTANCE TO THE SOUTHBRIDGE MUNI ARPT. THE CTLR WAS UNABLE TO OBTAIN RADAR CONTACT WITH THE ACFT & ADZD THE PLT THE VIS WAS 3/4 MI IN SNOWSHOWERS, BUT THAT ARPTS TO THE SOUTH WERE RPRTG VFR. THE PLT ELECTED TO CONT TO SOUTHBRIDGE. AT ABOUT 2145 EST, RADIO CONTACT WAS LOST. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH TREES IN SOUTHBRIDGE & CRASHED. WITNESSES RPRTD THE ACFT CIRCLED THE AREA 3 TIMES BEFORE IT CRASHED. ALSO, THEY RPRTD THE ENG WAS OPERATING & THAT SNOW WAS FALLING. NO PREIMPACT PART FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION OF THE ACFT OR ENG WAS EVIDENT. TOXICOLOGY CHECKS SHOWED THE PLT HAD A BLOOD/ALCOHOL LVL OF 0.190% & URINE/ALCOHOL LVL OF 0.234%. ALSO, PSEUDOEPHEDRINE (A NON-PRESCRIPTION DECONGESTANT) WAS DETECTED IN HIS BLOOD AT A LVL OF 2.4 MG/L.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N301WA](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N301WA-1992-02-11), registration cancelled 1992-02-11, S/N 32R7780411 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-32R-300
- Registry model: [Piper PA-32R-300](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-32r-300) (registry code 7103213) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 32R-7780411
- Airframe hours: 2297
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-540-KIG5D 300 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: George E. Keys
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, December 22, 1988
- Departed: 2B4, NEWPORT, RI
- Destination: 3B0, SOUTHBRIDGE, MA

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 59; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 900 total

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 280° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 2 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 700 ft overcast
- Temperature: 30 °F, dew point 28 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: ORH, 14 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 19890311003579A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19890311003579A), Mar 11, 1989: Piper PA32R300, Southbridge, MA, Destroyed, 2 fatal. Departed VFR at night. Encountered snow showers. Lost control circling trying to find airport.

## Other investigations on N301WA (1)

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.

- [NTSB MIA83IA239](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA83IA239), Sep 25, 1983: Piper PA-32R-300 (N301WA), Orlando, FL, incident, minor damage

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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