ARLINGTON, TX, USA
N21969
CESSNA 150L
THE PILOT MADE A LOW PASS AT NIGHT OVER A BAR WHERE HE & HIS PASSENGER HAD BEEN EARLIER IN THE EVENING. ACCORDING TO HIM, HE BEGAN A SECOND PASS & WAS DEMONSTRATING HOW THE AIRPLANE'S SPEED COULD BE CONTROLLED BY PITCH, WHEN HE BECAME PREOCCUPPIED WITH THE AIRSPEED INDICATOR. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE AIRPLANE IMPACTED A 45 FT TREE, THEN SEVERAL VEHICLES. THE PILOT STATED HE HAD CONSUMED 4 BEERS DURING A 4 HR PERIOD BEFORE THE FLIGHT. HE REFUSED A TOXICOLOGY TEST, BUT LOCAL POLICE GAVE HIM A FIELD SOBRIETY (EYE GAZE NYSTAGMUS) TEST. THE TEST INDICATED THE PILOT WAS UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF ALCOHOL.
POOR JUDGEMENT OF THE PILOT AFTER CONSUMPTION OF ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE, HIS DECISION TO MAKE LOW PASSES AT NIGHT (BUZZING), FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN PROPER ALTITUDE, AND DIVERSION OF HIS ATTENTION. DARKNESS WAS A RELATED FACTOR.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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