Grumman AA-5B N28788

Summary

On 6 August 2003 at about 11:40 local time, a Grumman AA-5B registered N28788 was involved in an accident near Pleasantville, Pennsylvania, United States. One person was on board and one died. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

6 August 2003 at 11:40

Classification

Accident

Location

Pleasantville, Pennsylvania, United States

Nearest airport

Johnstown County Airport (JST)

Coordinates

40.1525, -78.6942

Aircraft

Grumman AA-5B

Registration

N28788

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Bay Bridge → Johnstown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

IMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

NYC03FA176

1 person died.

The pilot's improper IFR procedure by his failure to maintain published altitudes, which resulted in the in-flight collision with terrain. A factor was his impairment due to prescription medication.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot attempted an ILS approach, which consisted of an inbound, 331-degree course, magnetic. The minimum glideslope crossing altitude at the initial approach fix was 4,484 feet msl. Radar data indicated the airplane tracked inbound on headings varying from 360 degrees to 270 degrees. Approximately 6.7 miles from the initial approach fix, the airplane descended from 4,600 feet to 3,400 feet, at a rate of 850 fpm. The last radar hit was recorded at 3,400 feet, approximately 4.7 miles from the initial approach fix. The airplane was located about 11 miles from the end of the runway, at an elevation of 2,461 feet, about 300 feet below the peak of a ridgeline. Examination of the airplane revealed no mechanical deficiencies. According to the pilot's toxicology test results, 6.51 (ug/ml, ug/g) of DESIPRAMINE was detected in his blood, and DESIPRAMINE and IMIPRAMINE were detected in his urine. The pilot's wife reported that the pilot had been taking Desipramine for approximately 10 years, to treat depression. She stated that she was a doctor and had prescribed the Desipramine to him. A review of the pilot's FAA medical file revealed he never reported taking Desipramine, and never reported any history of mental disorders. Imipramine is a prescription antidepressant, and often results in sedation and psychomotor impairment in healthy adults. Desipramine is a metabolite of imipramine and a prescription antidepressant in its own right. The levels of desipramine found in the pilot's toxicology report were more than 20 times the expected level for chronic use of a typical dose. Nonfatal overdose effects of desipramine, at amounts lower than reported on the pilot's toxicology, have resulted in seizures, coma, low blood pressure, and electrocardiographic (EKG) abnormalities.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.