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NTSB Report
December 22, 1987 · Cessna 170A · N5571C
Sandwich, MA
Overview
Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
December 22, 1987
Injury Outcomes
1 injury (1 fatality)
Location
Sandwich, MA
Aircraft
Cessna 170A
Tail Number
N5571C
Injuries
Fatal
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
NYC88LA059
THE CESSNA 170A WAS ON AN AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHY FLT. WITNESSES RPRTD THE ACFT WAS FLYING SLOW AT ABOUT 200 FT AGL WHEN IT BEGAN TO SETTLE. THE WITNESSES THEN HEARD AN INCREASE IN ENG POWER & SAW THE ACFT PITCH UP. SUBSEQUENTLY, IT 'FELL OFF ON A WING,' CRASHED IN A STEEP DSCNT & BURNED. DUE TO IMPACT & FIRE DAMAGE, INVESTIGATORS COULD NOT DETERMINE IF THE PLT WAS WEARING A SEAT BELT. NO PREIMPACT PART FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION WAS FOUND. THE 72 YEAR OLD PLT'S LAST MEDICAL CERTIFICATE WAS DATED 6/13/85 & HIS LAST BIENNIAL FLT REVIEW WAS ABOUT 34 MONTHS PRIOR TO THE ACDNT. A TOXICOLOGY CHECK REVEALED THE PRESENCE OF DESMETHYLDIAZEPAM, AN ACTIVE METABOLITE OF DIAZEPAM (VALIUM), IN THE AMOUNT OF 0.1 UG/ML. ACCORDING TO THE TOXICOLOGY RPRT, 0.1 TO 2.1 UG/ML OF DIAZEPAM IS A THERAPEUTIC LVL.
Full Narrative
THE CESSNA 170A WAS ON AN AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHY FLT. WITNESSES RPRTD THE ACFT WAS FLYING SLOW AT ABOUT 200 FT AGL WHEN IT BEGAN TO SETTLE. THE WITNESSES THEN HEARD AN INCREASE IN ENG POWER & SAW THE ACFT PITCH UP. SUBSEQUENTLY, IT 'FELL OFF ON A WING,' CRASHED IN A STEEP DSCNT & BURNED. DUE TO IMPACT & FIRE DAMAGE, INVESTIGATORS COULD NOT DETERMINE IF THE PLT WAS WEARING A SEAT BELT. NO PREIMPACT PART FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION WAS FOUND. THE 72 YEAR OLD PLT'S LAST MEDICAL CERTIFICATE WAS DATED 6/13/85 & HIS LAST BIENNIAL FLT REVIEW WAS ABOUT 34 MONTHS PRIOR TO THE ACDNT. A TOXICOLOGY CHECK REVEALED THE PRESENCE OF DESMETHYLDIAZEPAM, AN ACTIVE METABOLITE OF DIAZEPAM (VALIUM), IN THE AMOUNT OF 0.1 UG/ML. ACCORDING TO THE TOXICOLOGY RPRT, 0.1 TO 2.1 UG/ML OF DIAZEPAM IS A THERAPEUTIC LVL.
Flight
Event TypeAccident
Event Time12:29 EST
Nearest Airport0nm N
Runway0
Runway Length0
Runway Width0
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireGrd
Aircraft ExplosionGrd
Aircraft
AircraftCessna 170A
Tail NumberN5571C
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageDestroyed
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsContinental · O-300 · Reciprocating · 145
Seats4
People & Injuries
Injury Summary1 injury (1 fatality)
Fatal1
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total1
Crew 1Age 72 · Second Class
Conditions
ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
WindCalm
Visibility15 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point0 C / 0 C
Altimeter0
Weather SourceWIT