- Date
- February 7, 1991, 10:27 local (15:27 UTC)
- Place
- Skaneateles, NY
- Injuries
- 2 fatal, 1 serious
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N80JBBeech BE-58
- Weather
- Instrument (IMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report July 14, 1993
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19910207001939A
- Case key
- 36781
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot's loss of situational awareness/disorientation due to the influences of cocaine, which resulted in the loss of airplane control in instrument meteorological conditions. Factors related to the accident were: psychological impairment, fatigue and anxiety.
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.
Analysis
The pilot departed VFR into IMC (fog and low cloud ceilings prior to receiving his IFR clearance. The airplane was airborne approximately 6 minutes before it collided with trees and the ground. The investigation revealed the pilot and passengers had attended a funeral the day before the accident. Additionally, benzoylecgonine [cocaine metabolites] levels of 0.101 ug/ml in the blood and 0.629 in the urine were revealed in the pilot's toxicological samples. A benzoylecgonine level of 0.906 ug/ml in the blood was revealed in the toxicology sample for the pilot's wife. A human performance level study conducted by the safety board revealed that it is 'possible that the cocaine usage (by the pilot) exacerbated feelings of euphoria and increased the likelihood of a prior decision to takeoff without an IFR clearance at a time when his capabilities were significantly compromised.'
Aircraft
- Registration
- N80JB
- Reported as
- Beech BE-58
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- TH-769
- Engine
- Continental IO-520-C, 285 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Kenneth Jahn
- Registered owner
- Kenneth Jahn
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Unknown · January 2, 2000
- Destination
- BWI · Baltimore, MD
- Flight plan
- IFR
- Airport
- 689 · Skaneateles
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
- 36
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Left
- Toxicology
- Performed
- Flight hours
- 557 total · 107 in this make and model · 462 as pilot in command · 20 in the last 90 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Instrument (IMC) · Day
- Wind
- Calm
- Temperature
- 39 °F, dew point 37 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.