Plane Crash List

Piper PA-28-201T N8271B

5 July 1991 · Wernersville, Pennsylvania, United States · Fatal

Summary

On 5 July 1991 at about 14:41 local time, a Piper PA-28-201T registered N8271B was involved in an accident near Wernersville, Pennsylvania, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

The record

Date
at 14:41
Classification
Accident
Location
Wernersville, Pennsylvania, United States
Coordinates
40.3306, -76.0795
Aircraft
Piper PA-28-201T
Registration
N8271B
Category
Airplane
Engines
1
Operator
Not recorded
Operating rule
Part 91: General Aviation
Purpose of flight
Personal
Phase of flight
Not recorded
Route
Lancaster → Wilkes-Barre
Aircraft damage
Destroyed
Weather
IMC
Light
Day
NTSB number
NYC91FA171

People

2 people died.

On board Died Serious Minor Uninjured
2 2 0 0 0

Probable cause

THE PILOT'S LOSS OF AIRPLANE CONTROL DUE TO SPATIAL DISORIENTATION/VERTIGO. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE THE PILOT'S USE OF AN ANTIHISTAMINE AND SELF INDUCED PRESSURE TO COMPLETE THE FLIGHT.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE PILOT HAD FLOWN TO LANCASTER, PA. TO PICK UP THE 'BEST MAN' FOR HIS WEDDING. THE PILOT FILED AN IFR FLIGHT PLAN AND DEPARTED IN IFR CONDITIONS. APPROXIMATELY 15 MINUTES LATER, THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE HAD LOST THE HORIZON INDICATOR, BUT WAS GOING TO CONTINUE TO HIS DESTINATION. THE CONTROLLER ISSUED A CLEARANCE TO CLIMB TO 6,000 FT. AND A SHORT TIME LATER, THE PILOT STATED '...ITS PRETTY HAZY HERE BUT I KNOW WE'RE ON TOP BUT I DON'T KNOW IF I WANT TO GO ANY HIGHER.' SHORTLY THEREAFTER, THE PILOT REPORTED THE 'ELECTRIC COMPASS AND TURN AND BANK INDICATOR' HAD FAILED. ACCORDING TO RADAR DATA, THE MAXIMUM ALTITUDE ATTAINED BY N82718B WAS 5,700 FT. POST ACCIDENT EXAMINATION OF THE AIRPLANE'S VACUUM SYSTEM REVEALED NO EVIDENCE OF A PRE IMPACT FAILURE. TOXICOLOGY TEST REVEALED A LEVEL OF 1.1 MG/KG OF ANTIHISTAMINE IN THE PILOT'S BODY.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.

Other Piper PA-28 accidents

Date Aircraft Location Operator Outcome Died
25 Apr 1991 Piper PA-28-140
N95406
Hibbing, Minnesota, United States WM. & Audrey Svigel Minor injuries -
22 Oct 1991 Piper PA-28
N4616R
Berryville, Arkansas, United States Snider, Richard D. Minor injuries -
18 Nov 1991 Piper PA-28-161
N9811C
Greeley, Colorado, United States
no coordinates
P.c. Flyers No injuries -
14 Jul 1991 Piper PA-28-180
N7191W
Old Bridge, New Jersey, United States
no coordinates
Martin Sade No injuries -
27 Jan 1991 Piper PA-28-140
N610FL
Titusville, Florida, United States Achord, Marvin L. Minor injuries -
21 Dec 1991 Piper PA-28-140
N455FL
Yuma, Colorado, United States Aero Training of the Rockies No injuries -

All 9,402 records for this type

Other accidents in this area

Date Aircraft Location Operator Outcome Died
4 Jul 1991 Piper PA-22-150
N7315D
Tunkhannock, Pennsylvania, United States Skyhaven Airport, Inc. Minor injuries -
16 Jun 1991 Boeing 747-400
PHBFG
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States KLM Royal Dutch Airline Serious injuries -
9 Jul 1991 Waco UPF-7
N32126
Stebensville, Pennsylvania, United States Kriss Alan Kliegle Minor injuries -
28 Jul 1991 Piper PA-22-150
N2315P
Thomasville, Pennsylvania, United States Richard Miller No injuries -
6 Aug 1991 Cessna 150J
N60689
Burgettstown, Pennsylvania, United States John H Galicic No injuries -
12 Aug 1991 Piper PA-38-112
N2507B
Butler, Pennsylvania, United States Beaver Aviation Service Inc. No injuries -

All 170,864 records in United States