Beechcraft S35 N8992M

Summary

On 26 November 1999 at about 15:53 local time, a Beechcraft S35 registered N8992M was involved in an accident near Newark, New Jersey, United States. 30 people were on board and 3 died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

26 November 1999 at 15:53

Classification

Accident

Location

Newark, New Jersey, United States

Coordinates

Not recorded

Aircraft

Beechcraft S35

Registration

N8992M

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Linden → Washington

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

IMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

NYC00FA039

3 people died.

The pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control. Factors in the accident were failure of the horizontal situation indicator for undetermined reasons, and the pilot's use of inappropriate medication.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot departed on an instrument flight plan in instrument conditions, contacted departure control, and then reported a gyro problem. The airplane continued to fly for approximately 2 minutes. During this period, heading, altitude, and airspeed continued to change; and the pilot did not comply with any ATC instructions. The airplane crashed into a residential area. The pilot had approximately 5,800 hours of total flight experience, with 120 hours of that in the last 6 months. In addition, he had 1,308 hours of actual instrument experience. Static marks consistent with no or little rotation were observed on the horizontal-situation-indicator-gyro rotor. Toxicological test performed on the pilot revealed 3.239 (ug/ml, ug/g) of butalbital (a barbiturate) in muscle. On a non FAA 'Adult Physical Examination' form physician's notes indicate 'Past Medical History: Migraine headaches-uses Fiorinal [butalbital (a barbiturate), aspirin, and caffeine] up to 2 times per week...'. The 1999 physician's desk reference lists the most frequent adverse reactions to Fiorinal as drowsiness and dizziness. From 1992 to October 1999, the pilot was prescribed over 6,000 tablets of Fiorinal or the generic equivalent, with 800 of that being in the last year. On all the pilot's FAA medical applications, he stated he was not taking any prescription or nonprescription medication, and had never suffered from severe or frequent headaches.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.