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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

NTSB Reports is an independent research and search tool for public aviation accident and incident records. It brings NTSB aviation reports, structured fields, docket files, extracted figures, photos, videos, and update history into one searchable interface.

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NTSB Report

August 16, 1991 · Beech 58 · N104SB

Brookhaven, NY

Overview

Report Status
Probable Cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
August 16, 1991
Injury Outcomes
1 injury (1 fatality)
Location
Brookhaven, NY
Aircraft
Beech 58
Tail Number
N104SB
Operator
John G Lauchner
Injuries
Fatal
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
NYC91FA212

While on a heading of approx 270, the pilot was instructed to follow another airplane into the airport. He did not turn in on final and continued for almost 3 miles. When the ATCT told him to turn to 180 for resequencing, he turned to 330, toward the airport and started a descent from 2000 feet. The airplane descended to 1600 feet, and then started a climb back to 2000 feet, with a shallow left turn, contacted approach control and continued the turn to 150. The radar data showed the aircraft speed started to decrease when the airplane climbed. There was a continued decrease of speed to 44 knots, at which point, the airplane started a descent, followed by a left spin, and impacted water. The radar data showed no rapid course changes prior to the low point of speed. The air/ground tapes showed the pilot sometimes took almost a minute between frequency changes, and his voice was indecisive and hesitant. The pilot had been treated for seizures since 1974. Anti-seizure medication was found in his toxicological samples.

NTSB Probable Cause

PILOT PHYSIOLOGICAL INCAPACITATION WHICH RESULTED IN A LOSS OF CONTROL IN FLIGHT, AND AN UNCONTROLLED DESCENT INTO WATER.

Full Narrative

WHILE ON A HEADING OF APPROX 270, THE PILOT WAS INSTRUCTED TO FOLLOW ANOTHER AIRPLANE INTO THE AIRPORT. HE DID NOT TURN IN ON FINAL AND CONTINUED FOR ALMOST 3 MILES. WHEN THE ATCT TOLD HIM TO TURN TO 180 FOR RESEQUENCING, HE TURNED TO 330, TOWARD THE AIRPORT AND STARTED A DESCENT FROM 2000 FEET. THE AIRPLANE DESCENDED TO 1600 FEET, AND THEN STARTED A CLIMB BACK TO 2000 FEET, WITH A SHALLOW LEFT TURN, CONTACTED APPROACH CONTROL AND CONTINUED THE TURN TO 150. THE RADAR DATA SHOWED THE AIRCRAFT SPEED STARTED TO DECREASE WHEN THE AIRPLANE CLIMBED. THERE WAS A CONTINUED DECREASE OF SPEED TO 44 KNOTS, AT WHICH POINT, THE AIRPLANE STARTED A DESCENT, FOLLOWED BY A LEFT SPIN, AND IMPACTED WATER. THE RADAR DATA SHOWED NO RAPID COURSE CHANGES PRIOR TO THE LOW POINT OF SPEED. THE AIR/GROUND TAPES SHOWED THE PILOT SOMETIMES TOOK ALMOST A MINUTE BETWEEN FREQUENCY CHANGES, AND HIS VOICE WAS INDECISIVE AND HESITANT. THE PILOT HAD BEEN TREATED FOR SEIZURES SINCE 1974. ANTI-SEIZURE MEDICATION WAS FOUND IN HIS TOXICOLOGICAL SAMPLES.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time15:21 EDT
Nearest AirportMac Arthur (6nm SSW)
Runway0
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftBeech 58
Tail NumberN104SB
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageDestroyed
OperatorJohn G Lauchner
Operating RulePart 91
Engines2
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsContinental · I0-520-CB · Reciprocating · 285
Seats6

People & Injuries

Injury Summary1 injury (1 fatality)
Fatal1
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total1
Crew 1Age 87 · Third Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind310° @ 10 kt
Visibility10 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point63 F
Altimeter29.00 inHg
Observation Time18:50
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data