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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

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February 18, 1993 · Bertone Challenger II Challenger · N4391V

Boulder City, NV

Overview

Report Status
Probable Cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
February 18, 1993
Injury Outcomes
1 injury (1 fatality)
Location
Boulder City, NV
Aircraft
Bertone Challenger II Challenger
Tail Number
N4391V
Operator
Frank D Graham
Injuries
Fatal
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
LAX93LA124

The pilot had called another pilot on the radio and said that he was 5 mi south of the airport and returning to land. When the pilot did not return, the other pilot took off to search for the pilot. The airplane was located 3 mi south of the airport. Examination of the airplane revealed the airplane impacted the terrain nose first at a 40-45 deg angle. The propeller appeared not to have been turning at impact. An exam of the engine found no mechanical discrepancies. Toxicological results were positive: blood screen - 1026 ng/ml diazepam, 1142 ng/ml nordiazepam; urine screen - methamphetamine, amphetamine, oxazepam, temazepam, and nordiazepam identified. The level of diazepam would indicate that the pilot was taking the tranquilizer Valium at a level of at least twice the normal therapeutic concentration. In addition, the autopsy revealed a severe occlusion of the left anterior descending artery, at its origin. The degree of occlusion was sufficient to have caused arrhythmia, infarct or even death at any time.

NTSB Probable Cause

THE PILOT'S LOSS OF AIRPLANE CONTROL DUE TO PHYSICAL IMPAIRMENT AS A RESULT OF EITHER DRUGS OR OTHER CARDIOVASCULAR REASONS, OR BOTH.

Full Narrative

THE PILOT HAD CALLED ANOTHER PILOT ON THE RADIO AND SAID THAT HE WAS 5 MI SOUTH OF THE AIRPORT AND RETURNING TO LAND. WHEN THE PILOT DID NOT RETURN, THE OTHER PILOT TOOK OFF TO SEARCH FOR THE PILOT. THE AIRPLANE WAS LOCATED 3 MI SOUTH OF THE AIRPORT. EXAMINATION OF THE AIRPLANE REVEALED THE AIRPLANE IMPACTED THE TERRAIN NOSE FIRST AT A 40-45 DEG ANGLE. THE PROPELLER APPEARED NOT TO HAVE BEEN TURNING AT IMPACT. AN EXAM OF THE ENGINE FOUND NO MECHANICAL DISCREPANCIES. TOXICOLOGICAL RESULTS WERE POSITIVE: BLOOD SCREEN - 1026 NG/ML DIAZEPAM, 1142 NG/ML NORDIAZEPAM; URINE SCREEN - METHAMPHETAMINE, AMPHETAMINE, OXAZEPAM, TEMAZEPAM, AND NORDIAZEPAM IDENTIFIED. THE LEVEL OF DIAZEPAM WOULD INDICATE THAT THE PILOT WAS TAKING THE TRANQUILIZER VALIUM AT A LEVEL OF AT LEAST TWICE THE NORMAL THERAPEUTIC CONCENTRATION. IN ADDITION, THE AUTOPSY REVEALED A SEVERE OCCLUSION OF THE LEFT ANTERIOR DESCENDING ARTERY, AT ITS ORIGIN. THE DEGREE OF OCCLUSION WAS SUFFICIENT TO HAVE CAUSED ARRHYTHMIA, INFARCT OR EVEN DEATH AT ANY TIME.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time10:05 PST
Nearest Airport0nm N
Runway0
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftBertone Challenger II Challenger
Tail NumberN4391V
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageDestroyed
OperatorFrank D Graham
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsHirth · 2703 · Reciprocating · 55
Seats2

People & Injuries

Injury Summary1 injury (1 fatality)
Fatal1
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total1
Crew 1Age 59 · None

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
WindCalm
Visibility10 sm
CeilingOvercast 1500 ft
Temperature / Dew Point61 F / 0 C
Altimeter0
Weather SourceWIT

Appendix: Source Data