Travel Air 4000

The commercial pilot and the pilot-rated passenger were flying the biplane to a fly-in gathering in another state. Witnesses saw the airplane flying over a frozen lake at a low altitude and low airspeed. One witness saw the airplane "listing" left and right before it entered a left turn, and he lost sight of it. Other witnesses saw the airplane turn left and nose-dive into the ground. A postimpact fire consumed most of the airplane. Damage to the wreckage indicated that the airplane impacted the ground in a nose down attitude. The examination did not reveal evidence of any preimpact anomalies with the airframe, engine, or the control system of the airplane. A witness reported that, at the time of the accident, the wind was from the south about 30 miles per hour. However, a burnt area extending east from the airplane's impact point indicated the wind was from the west. Additionally, although wind information from nearby weather stations varied in direction and intensity. One station, about 14 miles west-northwest of the accident site reported calm wind., However, another station, located about 11 miles south of the accident site, recorded wind from the west at 11 knots with gusts to 27 knots about the time of the accident and wind from the west at 33 knots with gusts to 48 knots about an hour after the accident. Further, the forecast for the accident area called for wind gusts to 40 knots from the west-northwest. Therefore, it is likely that strong gusty west winds prevailed in the accident area at the time of the accident. Although some witnesses speculated that the pilot may have been attempting to land the airplane on the frozen lake, the airplane was not equipped to land on ice, and the reason the pilot was maneuvering at a low altitude in strong gusty winds could not be determined. Based on the witness observations and the damage to the wreckage, it is likely that the pilot allowed the airspeed to decrease to a point where the critical angle of attack was exceeded, and the airplane entered an aerodynamic stall/spin. Although the pilot was known to have heart disease, it is unlikely that his medical condition contributed to the accident. The witness observations indicate that the pilot was actively flying the airplane before the loss of control. Toxicology testing showed the presence of chlorpheniramine in the pilot's blood at a level that was likely in the therapeutic range. Chlorpheniramine is a sedating antihistamine available in a number of over the counter products, and it carries the warning, "May impair mental and/or physical ability required for the performance of potentially hazardous tasks (e.g., driving, operating heavy machinery)." Because of its sedating effect, chlorpheniramine may slow psychomotor functioning and cause drowsiness. It has also been shown in a driving simulator (after a single dose) to suppress visual-spatial cognition and visual-motor coordinating functions when compared to placebo. Such functions would have been necessary for the pilot to maintain control of the airplane while maneuvering close to the ground in the strong gusty wind conditions. Therefore, it is likely that the pilot's ability to safely operate the plane was impaired by the effects of chlorpheniramine.

During approach, the pilot of the tailwheel-equipped biplane flew along at 20-30 feet above the runway until he was at midfield. The biplane touched down, bounced back in to the air, touched down again, and bounced once more prior to touching down for a third time in a nose-high attitude. The biplane then veered to the right, the right wing dipped, and the biplane cartwheeled, coming to rest inverted. The pilot had 60 hours of flight experience in the biplane. The previous owner had advised the pilot that landing the biplane took patience to land it perfectly and that attempting to land the biplane on asphalt with low experience could cause the biplane to bump repeatedly. He also advised that if the pilot pulled back on the control stick too soon during landing it could result in ballooning and porpoising.

This flight was the ninth sightseeing flight of the day for this airplane and pilot. No problems had been reported on the earlier flights. After takeoff and at an altitude of approximately 150 feet, the engine lost power and it began to sputter. The pilot initiated a left turn to land on a field north of the airport. During this turn, the pilot lost control of the airplane, and it impacted the ground in a nose low attitude. A post-impact fire destroyed the airplane and severely burned the engine. An examination of the engine revealed no discrepancies. The pilot was seriously injured while both passengers were killed.

According to the operator of the spray operation, the pilot became distracted, when he was watching the grower drive out of the field he had sprayed. While he was watching the vehicle, he inadvertently allowed the aircraft to collide with power lines. There was no reported mechanical malfunction.

Ground witnesses reported that this and another aircraft were engaged in a mock 'dogfight'; both aircraft were circling the accident area between 500- 800 feet agl and neither aircraft was negotiating any aerobatic maneuvers. The pilot stated that during a descending 30° right banking turn, the aircraft entered into a right spin. Control inputs, including 'aft stick pressure,' could not arrest the spin. The pilot had not received any spin/spin recovery instruction from a cfi in the aircraft. However, the pilot's father stated he had given the pilot spin/spin recovery instruction. The passenger was killed and the pilot was seriously injured.

After takeoff from Tolleson, the single engine airplane encountered difficulties to gain height, struck power cables and crashed. The pilot was seriously injured and the aircraft was destroyed.

The pilot was engaged in a crop spraying mission on cotton fields. While flying at low height in marginal weather conditions, the single engine aircraft went out of control and crashed in flames. The aircraft was destroyed and the pilot was killed.

The pilot departed Willows on a local solo flight. While making a sharp turn at a height of about 100 feet, he lost control of the airplane that dove into the ground and crashed, bursting into flames. The pilot was killed.

The single engine airplane was completing a local sortie in Wink, Texas. While descending to a height of 150 feet in an attempt to land, the airplane went out of control and crashed. All four occupants were killed.

After takeoff from Ottawa, while climbing to a height of about 200 feet, the single engine airplane went out of control and crashed. All three occupants were killed.