Accident Summary
A night instrument training flight ended in a crash shortly after departure. The aircraft was scheduled for a night instrument training flight with a certified flight instructor (CFI) and two additional pilots seeking instrument ratings on board. Shortly after taking off from Runway 7, the CFI radioed the tower that an immediate landing was necessary, though no reason was given. The flight was cleared to land. Witnesses then observed the aircraft enter a steep left turn at low altitude and descend abruptly. It crashed in a steep descent approximately 500 feet north of Runway 7 on a heading of about 260 degrees. The impact occurred in a left-wing-low, nose-down attitude.
Investigation Findings
Investigators found no preimpact part failure or malfunction of the aircraft or engine. The aircraft's estimated gross weight at the time of the accident was 2,411 pounds, exceeding its maximum certified gross weight of 2,325 pounds.
Toxicological Analysis
Toxicological tests on the CFI's blood revealed the presence of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol, a psychoactive component of marijuana, at a concentration of 1 ng/mL. Additionally, delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol carboxylic acid, a metabolite of marijuana, was found at a concentration of 7 ng/mL.