# NTSB NYC92FIG01: Tierra II, N531PJ, Williamsport, MD, June 28, 1992

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Final report
- Date: June 28, 1992, 19:40 local (23:40 UTC)
- Place: Williamsport, MD
- Coordinates: 39.590042, -77.81018 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.5900&lon=-77.8102&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Unknown](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/990) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report December 9, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 37074
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC92FIG01
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/37074/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC92FIG01

## Probable cause

THE PILOT'S ALCOHOLIC IMPAIRMENT OF EFFICIENCY AND JUDGEMENT RESULTING IN A LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE DURING A FORCED LANDING FOLLOWING A POWER LOSS FOR AN UNDETERMINED REASON.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of engine power, unknown
  - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause)
- Forced landing, approach
- Loss of control - in flight, approach
  - aircraft control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - impairment(alcohol), pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, approach

## Analysis

THE PILOT PREFLIGHTED THE AMATEUR BUILT AIRPLANE AND THEN TAXIED IT FOR ABOUT 10 MIN BEFORE TAKING OFF. ABOUT 15 MIN LATER, WITNESSES REPORTED THEY HEARD THE SOUND OF A ROUGH RUNNING ENGINE BEFORE THE SOUND OF A CRASH. THERE WERE NO WITNESSES WHO REPORTED THEY SAW THE CRASH. THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH THE GROUND IN A NOSE DOWN ATTITUDE. EXAMINATION OF THE AIRPLANE DID NOT DISCLOSE EVIDENCE OF MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION.  THE PILOT WAS NOT CERTIFICATED, BUT HAD ACQUIRED AN UNDETERMINED AMOUNT OF FLIGHT TIME IN ULTRALIGHTS. TOXICOLOGICAL TESTS REVEALED A URINE ALCOHOL AND BLOOD ALCOHOL LEVEL, RESPECTIVELY, OF 0.09% AND 0.06%.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N531PJ](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N531PJ-1993-04-22), registration cancelled 1993-04-22, S/N 622063 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: TIERRA II
- Registry model: [Johns Paul TIERRA II](https://openairdocs.org/model/johns-paul-tierra-ii) (registry code 05676AA) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: 622063
- Engines: ROTAX 532 65 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Kevin Green
- Registered owner: Kevin Green
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: Unknown, January 2, 2000

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 49; seat: left; toxicology performed

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 270° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 52 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: HGR, 10 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 19920628021899A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19920628021899A), Jun 28, 1992: Amtrte TIERRA2, Williamsport, MD, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Wood prop blade delaminated in flight. Blade severed wing rib. Lost control. Spiraled to impact.

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.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.