N888AS

Destroyed
Fatal

BEECH A36 S/N: E-1365

Accident Details

Date
Friday, October 29, 1993
NTSB Number
MIA94LA013
Location
ORMOND BEACH, FL
Event ID
20001211X13620
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
Highest Injury
Fatal
Fatalities
3
Serious Injuries
0
Minor Injuries
0
Uninjured
0
Total Aboard
3

Probable Cause and Findings

POOR JUDGEMENT OF THE PILOT, DUE TO CONSUMPTION OF ALCOHOL AND USE OF DRUGS, AND HIS FAILURE (OR INABILITY) TO MAINTAIN ALTITUDE (OR CLEARANCE) ABOVE WATER AT NIGHT. DARKNESS WAS A RELATED FACTOR.

Aircraft Information

Registration
Make
BEECH
Serial Number
E-1365
Engine Type
Turbo-prop
Year Built
1987
Model / ICAO
A36 BE36
Aircraft Type
Fixed Wing Multi Engine
No. of Engines
2
Seats
19
FAA Model
300

Registered Owner (Current)

Name
STANISLAUS FOOD PRODUCTS CO
Address
1202 D ST
City
MODESTO
State / Zip Code
CA 95354-2407
Country
United States

Analysis

On October 29, 1993, three bodies and a small amount of airplane wreckage washed ashore in Ormond Beach, Florida, about 1400 eastern daylight time. The wreckage was that of N888AS, a Beechcraft A-36 registered to the pilot's father Boyd F.Herman, The pilot Bruce R. Herman was identified. The two other passengers were also identified. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed the previous night and no flight plan was filed. The airplane was not recovered and is presumed to be destroyed. The flight originated at an unknown time in the early morning hours the same day.

The pilot was last seen leaving a bar with two females who were later identified as the passengers about 0200 hours, and purchased a 12-pack of beer. His vehicle was found in his hangar with numerous empty beer cans in and around it. No witnesses were located who observed the airplane depart nor crash. Some of the debris recovered was similar in color to N888AS, and some of the parts had the airplane serial number written on them with black marker.

Postmortem examination of the pilot was conducted by the Medical Examiner, Dr. Frederick P. Hobin, who reported the cause of death to be multiple crushing traumatic injuries. Toxicological examination was conducted by the Civil Aeronautical Medical Institute, in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. The results were positive for alcohol, 144 [mg/dl] blood, and 227 [mg/dl] urine. Tetrahydrocannabinol was positive .004 [ug/ml] blood, and .026 [ug/ml] urine. The results were positive for cocaine .078 [ug/ml] blood. Multiple other drugs were identified and are noted in the results of toxicological examination attached to this report.

Data Source

Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# MIA94LA013