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NTSB Report
September 8, 1985 · Cessna 172 · N6236E
Sweetwater, IL
Overview
Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
September 8, 1985
Injury Outcomes
1 injury (1 fatality)
Location
Sweetwater, IL
Aircraft
Cessna 172
Tail Number
N6236E
Injuries
Fatal
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
CHI85FEV03
THE ACFT WAS OBSERVED FLYING AT LOW ALT PARALLEL TO A HIWAY BEFORE COLLIDING WITH A TREE BEFORE IMPACTING THE GROUND. THE PLTS WIFE SAID THAT THE PLT HAD BEEN UNDER EXTREME STRESS FOR A FEW MONTHS AND HAD NOT BEEN TO BED FOR 2 DAYS PRECEDING THE ACCIDENT. SHE ALSO SAID THAT HE MAY HAVE FALLEN ASLEEP BEFORE THE CRASH AS HE WAS KNOWN TO FALL ASLEEP SUDDENLY WHEN HE HAD BEEN WITHOUT SLEEP FOR SEVERAL DAYS. NO ACFT MALFUNCTIONS WERE FOUND. TOXICOLOGY REPORTS ON THE PLT INDICATED THAT EVIDENCE OF COCAINE WAS FOUND IN THE URINE AND VALIUM WAS FOUND IN THE BLOOD.
Full Narrative
THE ACFT WAS OBSERVED FLYING AT LOW ALT PARALLEL TO A HIWAY BEFORE COLLIDING WITH A TREE BEFORE IMPACTING THE GROUND. THE PLTS WIFE SAID THAT THE PLT HAD BEEN UNDER EXTREME STRESS FOR A FEW MONTHS AND HAD NOT BEEN TO BED FOR 2 DAYS PRECEDING THE ACCIDENT. SHE ALSO SAID THAT HE MAY HAVE FALLEN ASLEEP BEFORE THE CRASH AS HE WAS KNOWN TO FALL ASLEEP SUDDENLY WHEN HE HAD BEEN WITHOUT SLEEP FOR SEVERAL DAYS. NO ACFT MALFUNCTIONS WERE FOUND. TOXICOLOGY REPORTS ON THE PLT INDICATED THAT EVIDENCE OF COCAINE WAS FOUND IN THE URINE AND VALIUM WAS FOUND IN THE BLOOD.
Flight
Event TypeAccident
Event Time09:55 CDT
Nearest Airport0nm N
Runway0
Runway Length0
Runway Width0
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo
Aircraft
AircraftCessna 172
Tail NumberN6236E
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageDestroyed
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsContinental · O-300-B · Reciprocating · 145
Seats4
People & Injuries
Injury Summary1 injury (1 fatality)
Fatal1
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total1
Crew 1Age 42 · Third Class
Conditions
ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind200° @ 7 kt
Visibility15 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point0 C
Altimeter0
Observation Time10:15
Weather SourceWIT