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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

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NTSB Report

April 5, 2002 · Douglas/Basler DC-3C · N115Z

Casper, WY

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
April 5, 2002
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (3 uninjured)
Location
Casper, WY
Aircraft
Douglas/Basler DC-3C
Tail Number
N115Z
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
DEN02TA037

The pilot said that the airplane had taxied out for departure on runway 3. He said that he and his copilot were completing the checklist for departure when the copilot noticed high hydraulic pressure on the landing gear system. The copilot began the landing gear pressure relief procedure, but instead performed the landing gear retraction procedure. The pilot called out to the copilot to intervene, but the left main landing gear had already commenced retracting. The airplane settled onto its left wing damaging several intercostal ribs and wrinkling the left wing's skin. The copilot said that he had taken two capsules of an over the counter medication (Benadryl Allergy) on the morning of the accident. This medication, known as diphenhydramine, commonly results in drowsiness, and has measurable effects on performance of complex cognitive and motor tasks.

NTSB Probable Cause

The copilot's inadvertent retraction of the landing gear. A contributing factor was the use of inappropriate medication by the copilot.

Full Narrative

On April 5, 2002, at 0845 mountain standard time, a Douglas/Basler DC-3C, N115Z, was substantially damaged when its left main landing gear collapsed while standing at Natrona County International Airport, Casper, Wyoming. The airline transport pilot, the commercial copilot, and one passenger were not injured. The airplane was being operated by the U.S.D.A. Forest Service, Boise, Idaho, under Title 14 CFR Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the public use cross-country flight that was preparing to originate at the time of the accident. An IFR flight plan had been filed. The pilot said that the airplane had taxied out for departure on runway 3. He said that he and his copilot were completing the checklist for departure when the copilot noticed high hydraulic pressure on the landing gear system. The copilot began the landing gear pressure relief procedure, but instead performed the landing gear retraction procedure. The pilot called out to the copilot to intervene, but the left main landing gear had already commenced retracting. The airplane settled onto its left wing damaging several intercostal ribs and wrinkling the left wing's skin. The copilot said that he had taken two capsules of an over-the-counter Federal Aviation Administration non-approved medication (Benadryl Allergy) on the morning of the accident. This medication, known as Diphenhydramine, commonly results in drowsiness, and has measurable effects on performance of complex cognitive and motor tasks. In Annals of Internal Medicine 2000; 132:354-363, states that the effect of a normal 50 mg dose of Diphenhydramine on simulated driving is noted to be worse than the effect of a 0.10% blood alcohol level.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time08:45 MST
Nearest AirportNatrona County Intl Arpt (0nm)
Flight Plan FiledIFR
Flight Plan ActivatedNo

Aircraft

AircraftDouglas/Basler DC-3C
Tail NumberN115Z
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
Operating RulePart 91
Engines2
Engine TypeTurboprop
Engine DetailsPratt & Whitney · PT6-67R · Turboprop · 1281
Seats24

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (3 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured3
Total3
Crew 1Age 44 · First Class · None
Crew 2Age 50 · Second Class · None

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
Wind4 kt
Visibility10 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point39 C / 27 C
Altimeter30.22 inHg
Observation Time08:45
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data