Piper PA-28-201T accident near Wernersville, Pennsylvania, July 5, 1991
On July 5, 1991 at about 2:41 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-201T, registered N8271B, was destroyed in an accident near Wernersville, Pennsylvania. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
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.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 5, 1991 · about 2:41 pm local time
- Place
- Wernersville, Pennsylvania · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-201T · all PA-28-201Ts on the register
- Registration
- N8271B · no longer on the register · serial 28R8118005
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
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.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 753 hours in all; 349 in this make and model; 31 in the last 90 days; 703 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 5, 1990
- Maximum gross weight: 2,900 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-C1C6 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: LNS Lancaster PA at 2:27 pm
- Destination: AVP Wilkes-Barre PA
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 080° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 500 ft
- Temperature: 68°F (20°C), dew point 66°F (19°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 2:45 pm from LNS
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.