Rate this Pilot...

N801BH

N801BH

Touchdown! Greaser!
Gone West
Joined
Jul 7, 2008
Messages
17,188
Location
Jackson Hole Wy
Display Name
FBH
Home Airfield
kjac
NTSB Identification: CEN12FA571
14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Friday, August 24, 2012 in Milner, CO
Probable Cause Approval Date: 06/04/2013
Aircraft: PIPER PA-24-250, registration: N7774P
Injuries: 1 Fatal.

NTSB investigators either traveled in support of this investigation or conducted a significant amount of investigative work without any travel, and used data obtained from various sources to prepare this aircraft accident report.
The student pilot departed on a cross-country flight and was not in contact with air traffic controllers; no flight plan had been filed. Log data recovered from the handheld global positioning system (GPS) unit depicted a flight track consistent with the accident flight and logged a maximum speed of 135 knots and a maximum GPS altitude of 18,379 feet. The airplane’s wreckage was located in a remote valley the following afternoon. An examination of the engine and airframe revealed no anomalies. Damage to the airplane and ground scars were consistent with the airplane being in a stall and flat spin at the time of impact. During the examination of the wreckage, marijuana and an opened six-pack of beer were found; the beer bottles were located in the front of the airplane, within the pilot’s reach. Toxicological testing found both alcohol and marijuana in the pilot’s system. The amount of alcohol in the pilot’s system would have significantly impaired the pilot’s performance. In addition, the amount of marijuana and its metabolite found in the pilot’s system indicated he was actively smoking in the hour before the accident; this would also have significantly impaired his ability to control the airplane. Both of these intoxicants may have impaired his judgment and contributed to the pilot’s decision to fly above 18,000 feet in an aircraft not equipped with oxygen. The resulting hypoxia also impaired his ability to control the airplane.

The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident to be:

The student pilot’s impairment from alcohol, marijuana, and hypoxia, which adversely affected his ability to maintain control of the airplane...


:yikes::mad2::mad2::sad:
 
Well, I don't know about rating the pilot but I would like to nominated the NTSB for understatement of the year WRT this gem.

"may have impaired his judgment"
 
It was CO, so the marijuana would be legal now! And there are mountains, so altitude is your friend. The beer bottles....uhhh....that's a little tricky.

Sounds like he had a death wish and decided to do it via airplane while heavily sedated.
 
LDJones said:
It was CO, so the marijuana would be legal now! And there are mountains, so altitude is your friend. The beer bottles....uhhh....that's a little tricky.

Sounds like he had a death wish and decided to do it via airplane while heavily sedated.
Click to expand...

From the full narative:

Based on comparison of the ethanol levels in the blood with those in the vitreous fluid, it is likely that [the pilot] was consuming ethanol within 1 – 2 hours of the accident. Based on this behavior, suicide cannot be excluded as the manner of death.
Click to expand...
Sure sounds like suicide to me.
 
I just queried on MT and FATAL looking for a particular accident.....
Out of about 20 clicks looking for it, these showed up.


NTSB investigators may not have traveled in support of this investigation and used data provided by various sources to prepare this aircraft accident report.
A witness observed the airplane appear over a rise in the terrain from the west flying in an easterly direction. The airplane circled twice at less than 1,000 feet above the ground before heading west in a slight descent and impacting the ground at a high rate of speed. The pilot had a history of alcohol abuse beginning at the age of 16, as well as a history of driving intoxicated while under the influence of alcohol. He received inpatient treatment for "alcohol dependence" in 1993 and was noted to be "high risk for relapse" in documentation provided to the FAA. The pilot's first application for a 3rd Class Medical Certificate and Student Pilot Certificate in 1995 was denied. The pilot subsequently obtained a valid medical certificate in 1997, but was cautioned by the FAA that any further alcohol related offenses, or evidence of alcohol abuse could require re-evaluation of his medical certification. Additional documentation submitted to the FAA from 1995 through 1999 indicated that the pilot was completely abstinent from alcohol following impatient treatment in 1993. However, information submitted to the FAA in 2000 noted that the pilot was drinking 'about a six pack of beer per week' and had 'elevated liver enzymes.' No additional evaluation was requested by the FAA following the receipt of that information. Toxicological specimens from the pilot revealed 263 mg/dL (0.263%) ethanol in blood, 275 mg/dL (0.275%) in urine, 235 mg/dL (0.235%) in vitreous, and 190 mg/dL (0.190%) in brain. Examination of the airframe and engine, and their logbooks, did not reveal any pre-existing anomalies that would have prevented normal operations.


-----------------


While in cruise flight the aircraft suddenly lost all engine power, and after unsuccessfully attempting to get the engine restarted, the pilot attempted a forced landing on a nearby gravel road. During that attempt, the pilot failed to adequately compensate for strong crosswinds, and therefore inadvertently clipped the top of a tree that was located immediately adjacent to the approach end of the section of road he was trying to land upon. A post-accident inspection of the engine determined that the carburetor had separated from the engine in cruise flight, due to the fact that there were no longer any nuts on any of the four carburetor mount retaining lug bolts. The carburetor mounting flange holes all remained intact, and none of the four mounting bolts showed any signs of damaged or distorted threads. Recent use of Marihuana was determined to have impaired the pilot's judgment at the time he was attempting the forced landing.

------------------------------------------------


The aircraft took off in dark night smoky conditions during early morning hours. The purpose of the flight is unknown and the flights destination is unknown. Prior to daylight, the aircraft collided with transmission lines about 40 feet above ground level. Three lines run between towers and the aircraft severed one line, while the remaining two lines showed signs of impact damage. The aircraft came to rest inverted below the lines. Toxicological analysis was positive for high levels of ethanol in blood (0.190%), urine (0.472%), and vitreous (0.239%). Tetrahydrocannabinol (the primary active substance in marihuana) was detected in blood. Oxazepam, a prescription tranquilizer, was detected in blood and urine.
 
No need to rate him, he has rated himself.
 
wsuffa said:
No need to rate him, he has rated himself.
Click to expand...


Agreed... Tried... Convicted.........and sentenced to death...


I have 5 bucks the estate will sue Lycoming, Piper and all other suppliers that had parts in that plane for negligence...:mad::mad2::(
 
What a lightweight. Although perhaps he could handle his drugs without hypoxia. Gotta teach these student pilot druggies to take it slow at altitude and work their way up to their normal functioning buzz intake levels when they are at high altitude.
 
This is all speculation, but...

It sounds to me like he had intended to commit suicide, and then changed his mind; but was too inebriated to perform the emergency landing by that point.

-Rich
 
Some people are just too dumb for this world.

This little dodobird had to fly into that proverbial sunset
 
The break this yutz got, actually getting a medical, with a warning to be a good boy or else... :rolleyes2:

"You're drinking again? But you said you dried out in the hospital and swore off?!"

"Oh, it's OK... I'm only drinking a six pack per week."

"Hmmm... well, I guess alcoholics never actually lie about their drinking, so that's good enough for us! Here's your medical cert, and about 6 feet of rope with a noose tied in it."


What a tragic waste... of a perfectly good airplane (maintenance problems aside). :sad:
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top