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NTSB Report

September 20, 1994 · Piper PA-20 · N7061K

Greenville, MI

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
September 20, 1994
Injury Outcomes
1 injury (1 fatality)
Location
Greenville, MI
Aircraft
Piper PA-20
Tail Number
N7061K
Injuries
Fatal
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
CHI94LA337

A FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR HEARD THE PILOT OF THE ACCIDENT AIRPLANE CALL IN HIS ENTRY TO THE DOWNWIND LEG OF THE TRAFFIC PATTERN. AFTER THE INSTRUCTOR ENTERED THE TRAFFIC PATTERN, HE OBSERVED THE ACCIDENT AIRPLANE, WHERE IT HAD COME TO REST AGAINST A TREE. AN ON-SCENE INVESTIGATION REVEALED NO ANOMALIES WITH THE AIRPLANE OR ENGINE. ACCORDING TO A SHERIFF'S REPORT, THE PILOT HAD BEEN ON MEDICATION FOR EPILEPTIC SEIZURES; HOWEVER, THE ATTENDING DOCTOR WAS NOT AWARE THAT HE WAS A PILOT. THE PILOT'S LAST MEDICAL EXAM WAS ON 5/24/94, BUT REPORTEDLY, HE HAD NOT PROVIDED INFORMATION ABOUT HIS EPILEPTIC CONDITION TO THE DESIGNATED MEDICAL EXAMINER DURING APPLICATION FOR THE MEDICAL CERTIFICATE. A PATHOLOGIST THAT EXAMINED THE PILOT'S BODY ALSO NOTED THAT THE PILOT HAD SIGNIFICANT CARDIAC DISEASE. ACCORDING TO HIM, '. . . EITHER OF THESE MALADIES COULD HAVE CAUSED LOSS OF CONSCIOUSNESS-CONTROL . . . .'

NTSB Probable Cause

INCAPACITATION OF THE PILOT DUE TO A SEIZURE AND/OR LOSS OF CONSCIOUSNESS. A FACTOR RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WAS: THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO PROPERLY REPORT HIS MEDICAL INFORMATION ON HIS FAA MEDICAL APPLICATION.

Full Narrative

On September 20, 1994, at 1000 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA- 20, N7061K, registered to Glenn Playter of Greenville, Michigan, and piloted by a private pilot, was destroyed when it collided with a tree located about 400 feet north of runway 27 (3,700' X 75' dry asphalt) at the Greenville Municipal Airport, Greenville, Michigan. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The pilot was fatally injured. The flight departed Greenville, Michigan, exact time unknown. A flight instructor said he had heard a radio call from N7061K while flying near the accident airport. He said the pilot of N7061K reported downwind for runway 27 at the airport. After entering the traffic pattern, the flight instructor said he looked to his left and saw the airplane pushed against a tree. The on-scene investigation revealed that N7061K had collided head-on with a tree. Tire skid marks on runway 27 were in alignment with tire track marks found in the sod that lead to the airplane. Tire skid marks observed on the runway were made by the airplane's left main landing gear tire and tailwheel. According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Principal Maintenance Inspector (POI) representing the NTSB on-scene, the skid marks made a wide arc to the right. The skid mark made by the tailwheel was scalloped. Examination of the wreckage revealed the flaps in a retracted position. Control continuity was established for all three flight controls. The stabilizer trim was approximately one inch from the top of the fuselage slot (nose down). Fuel was leaking from the right wing fuel tank at its damaged forward fitting. The fuel selector, carburetor heat and magnetos were in the "OFF" position. The mixture control was at the full "RICH" position and the throttle was in the idle position. The carburetor throttle plate was about 75 percent open. Throttle cable continuity was confirmed. One propeller blade was embedded into the tree trunk for almost its entire span. According to a Montcalm Sheriff's Department accident report, the pilot had been on medication for epileptic seizures. The doctor treating the pilot for this condition was not aware he was a pilot. This doctor had prescribed that the pilot take 100 mg of dilantin three times per day. The pilot had been using the same FAA designated medical examiner since 1985. This doctor said he was not aware of epileptic seizures. The cause of the pilot's death was severe head and internal injuries. The pathologists conducting the autopsy stated: "The patient suffered significant cardiac disease and was under treatment for a seizure disorder. Either of these maladies could have caused a loss of consciousness-control while in the air resulting in the fatal crash." The FAA Civil Aeromedical Institute's toxicology report states, "7.100 (ug/ml, ug/g) Phenytoin [was] deteced in [the pilot's] blood. Phenytoin was deteced in [the] urine." According to the 1993 edition of the Physicians' DEsk Reference, Phenytoin is an antieptileptic drug.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time11:00 EDT
Nearest AirportGreenville Municipal (1nm N)
Runway27
Runway Length3700 ft
Runway Width75 ft
Flight Plan FiledUnknown
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftPiper PA-20
Tail NumberN7061K
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · O-290 · Reciprocating · 125
Seats4

People & Injuries

Injury Summary1 injury (1 fatality)
Fatal1
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total1
Crew 1Age 68 · Third Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
WindCalm
Visibility15 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point0 C / 0 C
Altimeter0
Observation Time14:00
Weather SourcePILO

Appendix: Source Data