Pilot Debrief

OLIVER VANS RV-9A near May, ID — 2010-06-19

Final reportWPR10LA299
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Date
2010-06-19
Location
May, ID, USA
Airport
0U8
Aircraft
OLIVER VANS RV-9A
Registration
N559B
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
Fatal
Fatalities
1
Phase of flight
Maneuvering

Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain control of the airplane during maneuvering flight due to spatial disorientation. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's ingestion of an impairing level of over-the-counter medication.

Contributing factors

Contributing to the accident was the pilot's ingestion of an impairing level of over-the-counter medication.

NTSB narrative

While approaching his destination airport, the pilot made a left turn to circle over an adjacent town. He then reduced his angle of bank, but continued in a left turn so as to overfly and evaluate the surface condition of the dirt/turf airstrip where he planned to land. At the time that he ultimately rolled wings-level to parallel the runway, he had been in a left turn for approximately four minutes. About 20 seconds after the pilot rolled out of the turn, the airplane rolled to the left and descended into the terrain. A forensic toxicology examination determined that the pilot's blood contained levels of an over-the-counter sedating antihistamine that would be expected to result in impairment, and it is likely that the pilot lost control of his airplane due to spatial disorientation exacerbated by the effects of the antihistamine. A postaccident examination of the airplane's flight control system and primary structure performed by a Federal Aviation Administration airworthiness inspector did not reveal any evidence of a malfunction or anomaly that would have contributed to the rapid roll and descent into the terrain.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Human factors
First missed decision gate
Pilot could have chosen to land at a different airport instead of attempting to evaluate May Airport.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • ADS-B / radar
  • 4 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents4

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