Pilot Didn't Maintain Airspeed After Engine Failure

Cavin Robert Councilor had just gotten his Piper Malibu out of the shop and was going to fly it from Naples (FL) to St. Petersburg on June 19th, 2002. He barely got off the ground before his engine quit.

What happened next was the subject of an intense NTSB investigation. The board Thursday released its findings on probable cause in the accident that killed Councilor and his two passengers that day.

Shortly after departing Runway 05 at Naples, the Malibu lost power. Witnesses told the NTSB that the propeller either stopped or was moving very slowly. Councilor put the PA-46 into a steep turn, headed back for the runway. But he never made it. Instead, he lost control of the aircraft and plunged to the ground.

"The airplane came to rest in a nose-low, near vertical position, suspended at its tail section by a fence and some trees along the eastern perimeter of the airport," said the report. "It had incurred substantial damage and the pilot and two passengers who were onboard the airplane were fatally injured."

The FAA conducted toxicology tests on Councilor's remains and found a surprising amount of diphenhydramine in his blood. The report states that diphenhydramine, commonly known as Benadryl, can be worse than alcohol.

"Published research... has noted the effect of a maximal over the counter dose of diphenhydramine to be worse than the effect of a 0.10% blood alcohol level on certain measures of simulated driving performance. The level of diphenhydramine in the blood of the pilot was consistent with recent use of more than a typical maximum single over-the-counter dose of the medication," wrote investigators.

Post-accident examination of the wreckage failed to turn up a reason for the sudden engine failure. Based on its findings, the NTSB said Councilor failed to maintain airspeed and was impaired by taking more than the maximum dose of diphenhydramine (Benadryl). The aircraft entered a stall/spin and subsequently impacted the ground.

FMI: www.ntsb.gov/ntsb/GenPDF.asp?id=MIA02FA113&rpt=fi