# NTSB NYC91FA073: Beech BE-58, N80JB, Skaneateles, NY, February 7, 1991

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: February 7, 1991, 10:27 local (15:27 UTC)
- Place: Skaneateles, NY
- Coordinates: 42.999992, -76.449783 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.0000&lon=-76.4498&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal, 1 serious
- Status: Completed, report July 14, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 36781
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC91FA073
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/36781/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC91FA073

## 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

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

- In flight encounter with weather, takeoff - initial climb
  - physiological condition, pilot in command (cause)
  - weather condition - fog
  - procedures/directives - not followed, pilot in command
  - spatial disorientation, pilot in command (cause)
  - weather condition - low ceiling
  - altitude - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - anxiety/apprehension, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - clearance - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - fatigue(lack of sleep), pilot in command (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with object, maneuvering
  - object - tree(s)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## 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](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N80JB-1991-06-05), registration cancelled 1991-06-05, S/N TH769 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BEECH BE-58
- Registry model: [Beech 58](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-58) (registry code 1152740) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: TH-769
- Engines: 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

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 36; 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 (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19910207001939A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19910207001939A), Feb 7, 1991: Beech 58, Skaneateles, NY, Destroyed, 2 fatal. Collided wiht trees and the ground shortly after IFR takeoff low ceilings, fog and rain in vicinity.

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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