SANTEE, CA, USA
N72035
BEECH B36TC
THE WX AT DEPARTURE WAS INDEFINITE CEILING 900 OBSCURED, VISIBILITY 2 MI IN FOG. ACCORDING TO WITNESSES, THE AIRCRAFT DEPARTED TO THE WEST FROM RUNWAY 27. ABOUT 1.5 MILES FROM THE RUNWAY THE WITNESSES HEARD LOUD ENGINE SOUNDS GOING EASTBOUND, THEN THE SOUNDS OF THE CRASH. THE TOWER WAS NOT OPEN AT THE TIME OF DEPARTURE. THE DAY BEFORE THE ACCIDENT THE PILOT HAD A SURGICAL PROCEDURE PERFORMED ON HIS FOOT AND HYDROCODONE (VICODIN) WAS PRESCRIBED FOR PAIN. HYDROCODONE WAS DETECTED IN THE TOXICOLOGICAL TESTS AT A LEVEL OF 1.2 MG/KG, SIGNIFICANTLY ABOVE THE THERAPUTIC DOSE LEVELS. HYDROCODONE IS AN OPIATE COMPOUND WHICH CAUSES DROWSINESS, MENTAL CLOUDING AND IMPAIRMENT OF MENTAL AND PHYSICAL PERFORMANCE.
THE PILOT'S DECISION TO ATTEMPT VFR FLIGHT INTO INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS, AND HIS LOSS OF CONTROL DUE TO SPATIAL DISORIENTATION. FACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO OBTAIN A WEATHER BRIEFING, THE EXISTING WEATHER CONDITIONS, AND PHYSICAL IMPAIRMENT AS A RESULT OF PRESCIPTION MEDICINE.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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