What happened
On August 28, 1986, an aircraft departed at night from an airport situated at an elevation of 5,586 feet. Approximately 1.5 miles from the end of the runway, the aircraft collided with rising terrain at an elevation of about 5,600 feet. A witness observed the takeoff but noted that the aircraft failed to climb after leaving the ground.
The investigation
A post-crash examination revealed no evidence of mechanical failure or malfunction involving the aircraft structure, flight controls, engine, or propellers. The accident occurred in an area isolated from ground lighting, which may have impacted situational awareness.
Findings
The pilot had undergone surgery on May 1, 1986, to remove an acoustic tumor from his right ear, including the removal of the eighth nerve responsible for balance. His physician recommended approximately one year of recuperation due to equilibrium issues associated with the procedure. On July 12, 1986, he received a first-class medical certificate valid only for flight tests. Logbook records indicated his last night flight was on March 22, 1985. He had been on duty for approximately 14 hours at the time of the accident.
Safety message
Pilots recovering from surgeries affecting balance or equilibrium should ensure full recovery and adequate recency in night flying operations before attempting solo flights, particularly when medical certificates are restricted to flight tests.