- Date
- April 25, 1998, 22:30 local (Apr 26, 1998, 02:30 UTC)
- Place
- New Bedford, MA
- Injuries
- 1 fatal
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N15326Piper PA-32-300
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Night/dark
- Status
- Completed · report March 30, 2000
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19980426007599A
- Case key
- 39558
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 impairment due to alcohol, which resulted in an inadequate preflight examination and subsequent takeoff with a control lock installed.
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
A witness observed the airplane depart Runway 5 and climb at a steep angle. The aircraft then turned to the northwest, then to the northeast, and descended steeply to the ground. Examination of the wreckage by a Federal Aviation Administration Inspector revealed a control lock device, with a locked pad lock, installed on the right hand flight control column. Toxicological testing revealed 155 mg/dL (0.155%) ethanol detected in the pilot's blood, 187 mg/dL ethanol detected in the vitreous, and 205 mg/dL ethanol detected in the urine. A review of 14 CFR Part 91.17, stated, '(a) No Person may act or attempt to act as a crewmember of a civil aircraft...(4) While having a .04 percent by weight or more alcohol in the blood.'
Factual narrative
On April 25, 1998, about 2230 Eastern Daylight Time, a Piper PA-32-300, N15326, was substantially damaged during a collision with terrain after takeoff from the New Bedford Airport, New Bedford, Massachusetts. The certificated private pilot was fatally injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed for the personal flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91.
According to a witness at the airport, the pilot landed at the New Bedford Airport (EWB) the morning of the accident. Another witness observed the airplane that evening after it took off. The witness stated that the airplane departed Runway 5, and after liftoff, it "...went straight up in the air like a acrobat..." The airplane then appeared to level off, turn northwest, then northeast, followed by "a nose dive," and descent to the ground.
Examination of the wreckage by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Inspector revealed that a control locking device, with a locked pad lock, was installed on the right hand flight control column. The pad lock key was found on the key ring with the airplane's ignition key. The airplane's ignition was off, and the ignition key had been removed. Additionally, the pilot's shoulder harness was not locked in position.
Toxicological testing was conducted at the FAA Toxicology Accident Research Laboratory, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. The testing revealed:
155 mg/dL ETHANOL detected in Blood 187 mg/dL ETHANOL detected in Vitreous 205 mg/dL ETHANOL detected in Urine
A review of 14 CFR Part 91.17, stated, "(a) No Person may act or attempt to act as a crewmember of a civil aircraft...(4) While having a .04 percent by weight or more alcohol in the blood."
Aircraft
- Registration
- N15326
- Reported as
- Piper PA-32-300
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 32-7340038
- Engine
- Lycoming TIO-540 SER, 310 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Michael J. Lafrance
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · October 3, 1997
- Departed
- EWB
- Airport
- EWB · New Bedford Regional Apt., runway 5, 4,997 × 150 ft, asphalt
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
- 44
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Left
- Toxicology
- Performed
- Flight hours
- 958 total · 850 as pilot in command · 5 in the last 90 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Night/dark
- Wind
- 280° at 6 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 50 °F, dew point 36 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
- Observed at
- EWB
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.
Other investigations on N15326 · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.