FREMONT, CA, USA
N6256F
CESSNA 172N
THE NEWLY CERTIFICATED PRIVATE PLT REPORTEDLY WAS EMOTIONALLY DISTURBED ABOUT HIS EMPLOYMENT & PERSONAL LIFE SITUATION. HE LOVED FLYING & FLEW TO RELEASE ANXIETY. NEAR MIDNIGHT THE PLT DEPARTED FOR A SHORT X-C FLIGHT DURING WHICH HE BECAME DISORIENTED. THE PLT REQUESTED & RECEIVED RADAR VECTORS BACK TO HIS DEPARTURE AIRPORT. CONTROLLERS SAID THAT THE PILOT SOUNDED IRRATIONAL AND THEY OBSERVED THE ACFT FAIL TO HOLD HEADING & ALTITUDE. THE ACFT ENTERED A RAPID DESCENT AND COLLIDED WITH THE GROUND, COMING TO REST IN A NEAR VERTICAL NOSEDOWN PITCH ATTITUDE. ON THE PILOT'S APPLICATION FOR A MEDICAL CERTIFICATE HE HAD DENIED ANY RECORD OF TRAFFIC CONVICTIONS. HOWEVER, AT THE TIME OF HIS APLICATION HE WAS ON PROBATION & HAD A HISTORY OF CONVICTIONS FOR DRUNK DRIVING. THE TOX REPORT INDICATED THAT THE PILOT'S VITREOUS FLUID ETHANOL LEVEL WAS 0.23 PERCENT.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
Aviation Accidents App
In-Depth Access to Aviation Accident Reports