Downers Grove, IL, USA
N759HF
CESSNA 182
The airplane contacted trees while on final approach to land at night in a residential airpark. The pilot reported that he adjusted the flaps and attempted to add power when he realized that he was too low, but it was too late. Local authorities located the pilot at his residence following the accident. Toxicology testing of blood and urine specimens obtained from the pilot after the accident was consistent with impairment due to recent use of alcohol, cocaine, an over-the-counter antihistamine (diphenhydramine), and two different prescription medications (alprazolam and hydrocodone). Testing results were also consistent with the typical regular use of a prescription antidepressant.
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On November 15, 2008, at 2302 central standard time, a Cessna 182Q, N759HF, collided with trees while on final approach to land on runway 27 at the Brookeridge Air Park (LL22), Downers Grove, Illinois. The pilot received minor injuries and a passenger was not injured. The airplane was substantially damaged. The 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight was operating in visual meteorological conditions. The flight originated from the Lake Lawn Airport (C59), Delavan, Wisconsin. At 2055, a person giving the aircraft registration number N759HF called the Kankakee Automated Flight Service Station stating he was flying from C59 to LL22. The briefer asked when he was planning on departing and the pilot replied "right now I want to shoot out" and "I want to get out now." The caller stated the flight was 15 minutes long and he was going to fly at 1,500 feet. The briefer provided a synopsis, current conditions along the route, and advised the caller about an AIRMET for moderate turbulence below 8,000 feet. The pilot stated he was going to fly back to C59 the next morning to pick someone up. The current local weather conditions were not issued as part of the briefing. A witness reported the airplane struck trees both in front of and behind his house, but it did not strike his house. He stated he heard the impact and ran outside within 2 to 3 minutes of the accident, but did not see any individuals in or near the airplane. He stated he did not approach the airplane due to the odor of fuel in the area. The pilot walked to his sister's residence on the air park, and she drove him to his residence. Sheriff's Department personnel located the pilot at his residence. The pilot stated he was coming in to land and realized he was too low. He stated he adjusted the flaps and attempted to add power, but it was too late. He stated the airplane contacted trees and flipped over coming to rest on the runway. The pilot stated he had "two or three drinks" prior to taking off, but that he did not have anything to drink after the accident. The pilot was then transported to the hospital where he provided blood and urine samples for testing. The hospital reported that his blood serum alcohol level was .057 and that the pilot's urine tested positive for "cocaine, benzo's, opiates, and cannabinoids." The pilot was placed under arrest for "Operating an Aircraft Under the Influence." The pilot then stated to Sheriff's Department personnel that he had a "few shots" and took a "narco" after the accident. The pilot's wife stated he did not have anything to drink prior to going to the hospital. PERSONNEL INFORMATION The pilot-in-command, age 45, held a private pilot certificate with an airplane single-engine land rating. The pilot was issued a third-class medical certificate on July 12, 2004. The medical certificate did not contain any limitations. The pilot's logbook indicated he had a total of 262 hours of flight time of which 203 hours were in the accident airplane. The pilot's last flight review was recorded on August 17, 2004. METEOROLOGICAL INFORMATION The weather conditions reported at the DuPage County Airport (DPA), located 15 miles northwest of the accident site at 2252 were: Wind from 270 degrees at 11 knots; visibility 10 statute miles; overcast clouds at 5,500 feet; temperature 2 degrees Celsius; dew point minus 3 degrees Celsius; altimeter 29.96 inches of mercury. WRECKAGE AND IMPACT INFORMATION The airplane came to rest in an open field east of the approach end of runway 27. The airplane was inverted on a southeasterly heading. The right wing separated from the airplane and was lying under the fuselage. This wing had a large semi-circular indentation on the leading edge of the wing. The left wing remained attached to the airframe with damage to the leading edge and wing strut. The leading edge of the left horizontal stabilizer contained a semi-circular indentation. The outboard portion of the right horizontal stabilizer and elevator were crushed. The altimeter setting in the airplane was 30.62 inches of mercury. MEDICAL AND PATHOLOGICAL INFORMATION Following the accident blood and urine samples from the pilot were sent to the Illinois State Police Westchester Forensic Science Laboratory for testing. The blood samples were not analyzed for drugs and the urine samples were not analyzed for volatiles. The results of the tests conducted were: Less than 0.010 g/dL Ethanol detected in blood Acetaminophen detected in urine Ibuprofen detected in urine Lidocaine detected in urine Levamisole detected in urine Diphenhydramine detected in urine Dihydrocodeine detected in urine Hydrocodone detected in urine Citalopram detected in urine Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) metabolite detected in urine Cocaine and metabolites detected in urine Alprazolam detected in urine The NTSB received toxicological samples from both the hospital where the pilot was treated and from the Illinois Stated Police Westchester Forensic Science Laboratory. Both sets of samples were tested by the FAA Civil Aeromedical Institute and a Forensic Toxicology Non-Fatal Accident Report was prepared which showed the following substances were detected: 93 (mg/dL, mg/hg) Ethanol detected in urine 44 (mg/dL, mg/hg) Ethanol detected in blood 49.07 (ug/ml, ug/g) Acetaminophen detected in urine 2.706 (ug/ml, ug/g) Alpha-hydroxyalprazolam detected in urine Alpha-hydroxyalprazolam not detected in blood 4.654 (ug/ml, ug/g) Alprazolam detected in urine 0.08 (ug/ml, ug/g) Alprazolam detected in blood 347.73 (ug/ml, ug/g) Benzoylecgonine detected in urine 1.774 (ug/ml, ug/g) Benzoylecgonine detected in blood Citalopram detected in urine 0.07 (ug/ml, ug/g) Citalopram detected in blood 8.279 (ug/ml, ug/g) Cocaethylene detected in urine Cocaethyleve not detected in blood 32.42 (ug/ml, ug/g) Cocaine detected in urine Cocaine not detected in blood 0.469 (ug/ml, ug/g)Dihydrocodeine detected in urine 0.009 (ug/ml, ug/g) Dihydrocodeine detected in blood Diphenhydramine detected in urine 0.024 (ug/ml, ug/g) Diphenhydramine detected in blood Ecgonine methyl ester detected in urine Ecgonine methyl ester detected in blood 4.807 (ug/ml, ug/g) Hydrocodone detected in urine 0.11 (ug/ml, ug/g) Hydrocodone detected in blood Ibuprofen detected in urine Lidocaine detected in urine N-Desmethylcitalopram detected in urine 0.04 (ug/ml, ug/g) N-Desmethylcitalopram detected in blood Ranitidine detected in urine 0.0994 (ug/ml, ug/g) Tetrahydrocannabinol carboxylic acid (Marihuana) detected in urine Tetrahydrocannabinol carboxylic acid (Marihuana) not detected in blood Sheriffs Department personnel located two bottles of pills in the wreckage. The first bottle was labeled Hydrocodone/APAP 10 mg with the pilot's name on the prescription label. This bottle contained: 18 white round tablets each marked "20"/"FL" (Escitalopram) 1 white oblong tablet market "M357" (Hydrocodone/Acetaminophen mixture) 7 pink round tablets marked "OR 606" (Ranitidine) 1 pink/white capsule marked "44-107"/"44-107" (Diphenhydramine) 4 yellow oval tablets marked "Watson 853" (Hydrocodone/Acetaminophen mixture) 4 blue oval tablets marked "L368" (Naproxen) 8 partial and 8 whole rectangular tablets marked "R039" (Alprazolam) 1 partial round white tablet marked with a partial "V" The second bottle was labeled Alprazolam 2 mg tablet with the pilot's name on the prescription label. This bottle contained: 29 partial and 69 whole yellow rectangular tablets marked "R039" Acetaminophen and ibuprofen are over-the-counter pain relievers and fever reducers. Alprazolam is a prescription anti-anxiety medication also known by the trade name Xanax. Alpha-hydroxyalprazolam is an active metabolite of alprazolam. Citalopram is a prescription antidepressant, also known by the trade name of Celexa. N-Desmethylcitalopram is a metabolite of citalopram. Cocaethylene is a substance formed when cocaine and alcohol are simultaneously present in the body. Benzoylecgonine and ecgonine methyl ester are inactive metabolites of cocaine. Diphenhydramine is an over-the-counter antihistamine with sedative effects. Hydrocodone is a prescription narcotic painkiller. Dihydrocodeine is a metabolite of hydrocodone. Lidocaine is a topical or local anesthetic. Ranitidine is an over-the-counter anti-acid medication commonly known as Zantac. Tetrahydrocannabinol carboxylic acid is an inactive metabolite of tetrahydrocannabinol, the primary active substance in marijuana. The blood sample was drawn approximately 2 hours and 15 minutes after the accident. The typical blood alcohol metabolism rate is 0.015 percent per hour, The pilot stated to an FAA inspector that he used cocaine around 1000 on the morning of the accident. According to the airport manager, the runway was equipped with a simplified visual approach slope indicator system which used green, yellow, and red lights. The pilot reported seeing red lights just prior to adding power.
The pilot's failure to maintain a proper glidepath while on final approach in night conditions, due to his impairment from recent use of alcohol, cocaine, and over-the-counter and prescription medications.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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