What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 1998-05-10 involved an Alon A-2, registration N5482E, at Cedar Hills, MO.

Witness Accounts Describe Stall and Nose Dive During Low-Altitude Maneuvering (N5482E)

On May 10, 1998, an Alon A-2 (registration N5482E) was involved in an aviation accident near Cedar Hills, MO. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: the failure of the pilot to maintain airplane control due to alcohol impairment. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.

Witnesses observed an airplane circling a home at low altitude, losing speed and altitude before a right wing stall led to an inverted nose dive. Toxicology found ethanol in pilot's urine and vitreous fluids. No mechanical anomalies were detected.

Accident Overview

According to witness statements, the airplane was observed circling a residence at an altitude between 700 and 1,000 feet above ground level. One witness reported that the airplane was losing altitude while maneuvering.

Witness Accounts

Another witness described the airplane as '...flying at a slow rate of speed, making [an] approximate 30-degree turn. The engine was running when the right wing stalled, turning the airplane upside down. The plane then nose dived to the ground.' This sequence of events indicates a loss of control during low-altitude flight.

Toxicology Results

A toxicological report revealed the presence of ethanol in the pilot's biological samples. Specifically, 112 (mg/dL, mg/hg) of ethanol was detected in the pilot's urine sample, and 84 (mg/dL, mg/hg) of ethanol was detected in the vitreous fluids examined.

Mechanical Examination

No mechanical anomalies were found with the engine, airframe, or control system that would prevent normal flight. This suggests that the aircraft's systems were functioning as designed prior to the event.

1998-05-10: Alon A-2 (N5482E) — Cedar Hills, MO