- Date
- July 5, 1991, 10:41 local (14:41 UTC)
- Place
- Wernersville, PA
- Injuries
- 2 fatal
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Aircraft
- N8271BPiper PA-28-201T
- Weather
- Instrument (IMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report July 23, 1993
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19910705026139A
- Case key
- 36798
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 airplane control due to spatial disorientation/vertigo. Factors related to the accident were the pilot's use of an antihistamine and self induced pressure to complete the flight.
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 had flown to lancaster, PA. To pick up the 'best man' for his wedding. The pilot filed an IFR flight plan and departed in IFR conditions. Approximately 15 minutes later, the pilot reported that he had lost the horizon indicator, but was going to continue to his destination. The controller issued a clearance to climb to 6,000 ft. and a short time later, the pilot stated '...its pretty hazy here but I know we're on top but I don't know if I want to go any higher.' Shortly thereafter, the pilot reported the 'electric compass and turn and bank indicator' had failed. According to radar data, the maximum altitude attained by N82718B was 5,700 ft. post accident examination of the airplane's vacuum system revealed no evidence of a pre impact failure. Toxicology test revealed a level of 1.1 mg/kg of antihistamine in the pilot's body.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N8271B
- Reported as
- Piper PA-28-201T
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 28R8118005
- Engine
- Lycoming IO-360-C1C6, 200 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Pedersen, Alan W.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · October 5, 1990
- Departed
- LNS · Lancaster, PA
- Destination
- AVP · Wilkes-Barre, PA
- Flight plan
- IFR
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
- 34
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Toxicology
- Performed
- Flight hours
- 753 total · 349 in this make and model · 703 as pilot in command · 31 in the last 90 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Instrument (IMC) · Day
- Wind
- 80° at 5 knots
- Visibility
- 5 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 500 ft overcast
- Temperature
- 68 °F, dew point 66 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
- Observed at
- LNS
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.