Probable Cause: Flight Into IMC, Marijuana Intoxication
The National Transportation Safety Board has released its
in-depth final report on the fatal crash of an Extra 300/L (see
illustration below) on the morning of last June 5 near Gothenburg,
NE.
As
ANN previously reported, the pilot and sole
occupant of the airplane was identified as 39-year-old Stanley E.
Dunn of Fort Collins, CO. The wreckage of the plane was not located
until the next morning, in a farm field approximately 13 miles
north of Gothenburg.
The fatal flight originated at North Platte Municipal Airport
(LBF), North Platte, NE, with the intended destination of Lewis
University Airport (LOT), near Chicago, IL.
The NTSB's Probable Cause report reads as follows:
"The non-instrument rated private pilot was traveling
cross-country to perform in an aerobatics competition. The airplane
was not equipped to fly in instrument weather conditions.
"During the pilot's telephone weather briefing with flight
service on the morning of the accident, he was informed of an
AIRMET for areas of ceilings less than 1,000 feet and visibility
less than three miles along his intended route of flight. He was
also informed of areas of thunderstorms forming along a warm front
near his location.
"At the time of departure, weather at LBF was reported as
overcast at 900 feet, 10 miles visibility and thunderstorms in the
immediate vicinity. Radar data showed the airplane flying
erratically with several large heading and altitude changes during
the last three minutes of flight.
"A private pilot witness 3.6 miles from the accident site saw
the airplane fly over his home. He said there was a 'wet' fog with
visibility of about three miles and the pilot was rocking his wings
back and forth.
"The pilot lost visual references outside due to low visibility
and the airplane entered a spin and impacted terrain. The pilot was
fatally injured and the airplane was destroyed. The parachute
equipped pilot did not attempt to egress the airplane.
"Marijuana was found in the pilot's luggage, and toxicological
testing found the presence of marijuana in the pilot's blood,
urine, lungs and liver. The levels of marijuana found in the pilot
indicate he had used marijuana within three hours prior to the
accident and was likely impaired by its effects.
"The National Transportation Safety Board determines the
probable cause(s) of this accident as follows:
"The pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control after
encountering instrument meteorological conditions. Contributing to
the accident were the pilot's recent usage of Marijuana, his
impaired judgment and decision making, and the low visibility
weather conditions."