Man And Friend Killed After Takeoff Into IFR Conditions

According to the NTSB report on a fatal accident near Purdue University in West Lafayette, IN, the pilot was legally drunk when he took off in IFR conditions earlier this year.

The pilot, 22-year-old Dustin Walters, and passenger Tiesa Knoth were killed when their Piper Arrow went down in a heavily wooded area on the western edge of the university shortly after takeoff on the morning of March 26. Walters had a blood-alcohol content of .13 percent, over three times the FAA's legal limit of .04 percent for those flying an airplane.

The NTSB report states Walters visited several area bars and restaurants the evening before the accident. According to witnesses, he told those outside one restaurant "while I'm here at Purdue I'm gonna fly my plane."

"This was followed by [the pilot] displaying his pilot's license as well as a set of keys advising 'I've got my license and I've got the keys,'" according to the NTSB report.

Another witness reported later seeing the Arrow take off from Purdue University Airport (LAF) at approximately 0545 local time. A 600-foot ceiling was reported at the time of the accident, with 5 miles visibility in mist.

NTSB spokeswoman Lauren Peduzzi said it could be a few more months before the final report on the accident is released.

FMI: NTSB Factual Report