Cessna 150E N3022J

Summary

On 19 February 2011 at about 22:10 local time, a Cessna 150E registered N3022J was involved in an accident near Ware Shoals, South Carolina, 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

19 February 2011 at 22:10

Classification

Accident

Location

Ware Shoals, South Carolina, United States

Coordinates

34.4600, -82.2386

Aircraft

Cessna 150E

Registration

N3022J

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Ware Shoals → Ware Shoals

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ERA11FA151

1 person died.

The non-certificated pilot's impairment due to alcohol and a sedating antihistamine, which resulted in his failure to maintain airspeed and the subsequent aerodynamic stall and ground impact.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The non-certificated pilot departed from a field near his private residence for a local flight. According to eyewitnesses, the airplane was observed flying overhead about 10 to 15 feet above a tree, which was about 70 feet in height. One eyewitness reported that the airplane was low enough that he could see the occupant’s profile. Several eyewitnesses stated that when the airplane was in the vicinity of the tree, the engine "revved up," then the left wing dropped. The airplane impacted the ground and nosed over. Examination of the airframe, flight controls, and engine revealed no preaccident malfunctions or anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. Examination of the stall warning switch noted cobwebs inside the mechanism that inhibited the normal operation of the switch. It is likely that the non-certificated pilot was operating the airplane slightly above the stall speed, but no audible warning horn was sounded due to the cobwebs; the pilot then likely let the airspeed drop further, and the airplane stalled and entered a spin; however, due to the close proximity to the ground the pilot was unable to recover. Toxicological testing of the non-certificated pilot’s blood revealed significantly elevated levels of ethanol (alcohol), indicating preaccident ingestion that would have impaired his performance. The testing also indicated the presence of diphenhydramine, a sedating antihistamine, which can result in cognitive and psychomotor impairment. Thus, it is very likely that the combination of alcohol and diphenhydramine impaired the pilot’s cognitive and psychomotor functioning at the time of the accident.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.