Piper PA-28R-200 N5012S

Summary

On 5 July 2006 at about 16:10 local time, a Piper PA-28R-200 registered N5012S was involved in an accident near Block Island, Rhode Island, United States. 3 people were on board and 3 died. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

5 July 2006 at 16:10

Classification

Accident

Location

Block Island, Rhode Island, United States

Nearest airport

Block Island State (BID)

Coordinates

41.1656, -71.5903

Aircraft

Piper PA-28R-200

Registration

N5012S

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Block Island → White Plains

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

IMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

NYC06FA169

3 people died.

The pilot's inadequate preflight decision making and his failure to maintain terrain clearance during departure. Contributing, were low ceilings, rain, and thunderstorms.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot of the Piper PA-28R-200 departed from runway 28, under instrument meteorological conditions, with reported lightning and thunderstorms nearby. Shortly after takeoff, the airplane struck trees, and came to rest about 1/2 mile from the airport. Numerous broken and cut braches, consistent with the engine developing power were observed in the vicinity of the start of a 100-foot-long debris path. Examination of the airframe and engine did not reveal any preimpact malfunctions. The pilot obtained weather information via a computer service about one hour prior to the flight. Another pilot who departed from the same runway, about 10 minutes prior to the accident flight said he was advised by a preflight briefer that an area of thunderstorms was moving toward the airport, and that the briefer recommended an immediate departure. The pilot said he departed within 5 minutes after the briefing and made a left turn, away from the weather that was approaching from the west. Witnesses near the accident site reported weather conditions that included "heavy rain," "thunder," "lighting," extremely cloudy," and "foggy" at the time of the accident. Toxicology testing indicated that the pilot, a physician, had recently been using bupropion and fluoxetine (prescription antidepressants) and oxcarbazepine (a mildly impairing anti-seizure medication also used for certain chronically painful conditions and to treat manic-depression). The FAA would not typically approve the use of any of these medications. The pilot had not indicated the use of these medications or the diagnosis of any conditions for which they would be used on his most recent application for airman medical certificate. The role of the medications or the conditions for which they may have been used could not be conclusively established in this accident.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.