Beechcraft D-45 N6VY

Summary

On 6 April 2002 at about 21:33 local time, a Beechcraft D-45 registered N6VY was involved in an accident near Minden, Louisiana, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 died. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

6 April 2002 at 21:33

Classification

Accident

Location

Minden, Louisiana, United States

Nearest airport

Minden-Webster (F24)

Coordinates

32.6431, -93.2983

Aircraft

Beechcraft D-45

Registration

N6VY

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Minden → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

FTW02FA113

2 people died.

The private pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control during a go-around. Contributing factors were the private pilot's impairment due to drugs, the pilot-rated passenger's lack of experience in the airplane, and the prevailing gusty crosswind conditions.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The airplane impacted wooded terrain west of the runway following an uncontrolled descent from a go-around from runway 01. Strong gusty winds (15 to 25 knots) from the east prevailed at the airport at the time of the accident. The private pilot, who occupied the front seat, had accumulated a total of 1,012.3 hours in the accident airplane. The pilot rated passenger, who occupied the aft seat, had accumulated a total of 321.5 hours, with none in the accident airplane. Review of the private pilot's personal and FAA medical records indicated that he had an essential tremor, a condition that caused his head and hands to shake noticeably, and not associated with any other disease. He continued to have progressive symptoms even on medications. He had an episode of unusual behavior, possibly related to his medications, in 1996 which occurred during operation of an aircraft. At the time of the accident, the private pilot was on fairly large doses of diazepam and propanolol to treat his essential tremor, medications which he did not note on his most recent application for a medical certificate in 2000 . The FAA medical records indicated that the FAA did not consider the private pilot medically qualified in 1996 and in 2000. Toxicological tests for the private pilot were positive for: diazepam (0.393 ug/ml) and its metabolites in blood and for propanolol in the blood and liver. Diazepam and its metabolites have substantial adverse effects on judgment, alertness, and performance. The pilot, in fact, complained of sedation from the diazepam, and adverse performance effects would be expected at the levels used. Propanolol which lowers blood pressure and reduces heart rate response to stress, may result in dizziness, fatigue, and decreased G-tolerance, particularly at high doses. The private pilot was impaired from the diazepam, possibly from propanolol, and possibly from his essential tremor. No evidence of uncorrected discrepancies was found in the maintenance records. No evidence of an in-flight mechanical and/or flight control malfunction was found that would have rendered the airplane uncontrollable prior to the impact.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.