Accident Details
On July 5, 1986, at approximately 2100 Pacific Daylight Time, an aircraft departed from Lake Havasu City, Arizona, for an unknown destination. The following morning, around 0330, witnesses fishing on Lake Havasu heard the aircraft circle twice before it crashed about two miles west of the airport on the California side of the lake. Weather conditions were clear with a dark night sky.
Impact and Damage
The aircraft impacted in a steep descent and moved only about 20 feet after hitting the ground. Extensive damage was sustained to the nose and forward fuselage. No evidence of preimpact part failure or malfunction was found.
Toxicology and Pilot Information
Toxicology tests conducted on the pilot and two of the four passengers were positive for benzoylecgonine and cocaine. For the pilot, benzoylecgonine levels were 0.46 microgram/milliliter in blood, 0.58 microgram/gram in liver tissue, and 1.3 micrograms/gram in kidney tissue. Cocaine levels were 0.01 microgram/gram in liver tissue and 0.23 microgram/gram in kidney tissue. The pilot possessed a student pilot license that had expired. Three of the four passengers were occupying the two rear seats.