Pilot Debrief

SCHOONOVER JOHN D KIT FOX IV 1200 near St. Lucie, FL — 2013-04-14

Final reportERA13FA201
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Date
2013-04-14
Location
St. Lucie, FL, USA
Airport
FL37
Aircraft
SCHOONOVER JOHN D KIT FOX IV 1200
Registration
N117S
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
Fatal
Fatalities
1
Phase of flight
Approach

Probable cause

The pilot’s failure to maintain adequate airspeed during the turn to final, which resulted in an exceedance of the wing’s critical angle-of-attack and a subsequent aerodynamic stall. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s combined use of two sedating antihistamines, which resulted in his impairment.

Contributing factors

Contributing to the accident was the pilot's combined use of two sedating antihistamines, which resulted in his impairment.

NTSB narrative

Witnesses reported that the airplane took off from runway 27, turned north, then circled back to a left downwind to land on the same runway. One witness noted that, during the downwind leg, the airplane was "very close in" to the runway and that, although the airplane had taken off in conditions that were a "little hazy," he subsequently saw the airplane "popping through clouds" on the downwind leg. Another witness reported that, during the airplane's turn toward the final approach to the runway, she saw the airplane's nose drop and then the airplane heading "straight down" before it disappeared behind a tree line. Multiple witnesses reported hearing the engine operating at a high-power level. No preexisting mechanical anomalies were found that would have precluded normal operation. The airplane's close, downwind track and the wreckage location relative to the runway were consistent with a cross-controlled aerodynamic stall. However, the witness statement of the airplane's nose dropping straight down and the heading of the airplane at ground impact were more indicative of a straight (relatively balanced flight) aerodynamic stall. Toxicology testing on the pilot detected low levels of the sedating antihistamine diphenhydramine and therapeutic levels of the sedating antihistamine doxylamine. The combination of the two drugs may increase side effects such as drowsiness, confusion, and memory problems, and the pilot's combined use of both drugs likely impaired his performance and contributed to the accident.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Human factors
First missed decision gate
Pilot could have aborted the landing when conditions worsened during the approach.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • Photos
  • 7 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents7

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