On December 8, 1990, an Erco 415-C (registration N3522H) operated by Gary L. Young was involved in an aviation accident near Ola, ID. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's impairment due to alcohol consumption. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
An aircraft was discovered inverted near a tree with a large branch broken nearby. Witnesses reported seeing the plane at dusk. A bottle of vodka was found at the site, and toxicology results showed significant alcohol presence.
What happened
The aircraft was located in an inverted position on the side of a hill, situated approximately 1,290 feet from a large tree that had a broken branch. Witnesses reported observing the airplane at dusk in the vicinity of Ola. At the wreckage site, investigators found a bottle of vodka that was between one-quarter and one-third full.
The investigation
Toxicological analysis was conducted on the pilot's biological samples. Testing of both vitreous fluids and lung tissue revealed an ethanol level of 0.23%.
Findings
The presence of a significant amount of alcohol in the pilot's system, combined with the inverted position of the aircraft near a tree, suggests impairment played a role in the accident.
Probable cause
The pilot's impairment due to alcohol consumption.