ODESSA, TX, USA
N34889
CESSNA 177B
ACCORDING TO THE PAX, THE PLT HAD BEEN DRINKING PRIOR TO THE FLT. AFTER TAKEOFF, THE PLT DECIDED THAT PERHAPS HE WAS NOT IN ANY CONDITION TO FLY, SO HE ELECTED TO RETURN TO THE ARPT & LAND. RPRTDLY, HIS SEAT BELT HAD GOTTEN CAUGHT IN THE DOOR, & ON FINAL APCH, THE DOOR OPENED. THIS DISTRACTED THE PLT, & SUBSEQUENTLY, THE ACFT TOUCHED DOWN SHORT OF THE RWY, THEN SKIDDED 255 FT BEFORE STOPPING. THE PLT'S SEAT BELT WAS NOT FASTENED. HE WAS THROWN OUT OF THE ACFT & WAS SERIOUSLY INJURED. THE PAX'S SEAT BELT WAS FASTENED & SHE RECEIVED ONLY MINOR INJURIES. A TOXICOLOGY CHECK SHOWED THAT THE PLT HAD A BLOOD/ALCOHOL LVL OF 0.29%.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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