On October 3, 1982, a Beech 95-55 (registration N72RT) operated by Taylor & Taylor Farms, Inc. was involved in an aviation accident near Flagstaff, AZ. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's impairment due to alcohol consumption while performing aerobatic maneuvers. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
An aircraft performing aerobatic maneuvers crashed nose-down. The pilot had a blood alcohol level of 0.142%, and all passengers tested positive for alcohol.
What happened
Two witnesses observed an aircraft conducting aggressive aerial maneuvers between 0130 and 0200. The flight included dives, loops, inverted flight, and low passes over a lake located approximately five miles south of the accident site. After initially departing the area, the aircraft returned shortly thereafter before impacting the ground in a nearly 90-degree nose-down attitude.
Findings
Post-accident toxicology results revealed significant impairment among those on board. The pilot's blood alcohol concentration was measured at 0.142%. All passengers also tested positive for alcohol, indicating that intoxication likely contributed to the loss of control during these high-risk maneuvers.
Probable cause
The pilot's impairment due to alcohol consumption while performing aerobatic maneuvers.