Incident Overview
A pilot, who was accumulating flight time to qualify for a commercial pilot examination, was flying with a passenger when the airplane collided with terrain in a canyon. The surviving passenger reported that the aircraft and its engine were functioning normally, and stated that weather conditions were not a factor in the accident.
Passenger Account
According to the passenger, they were flying at an altitude that he considered dangerously low. He told the pilot, "Let's get out of here," to which the pilot responded that he was trying. Shortly thereafter, the airplane struck the surrounding terrain.
Pilot Toxicology
A toxicological test conducted on the pilot detected tetrahydrocannabinol carboxylic acid, a metabolite of marijuana, at a concentration of 0.028 micrograms per milliliter in the blood.
Aircraft and Environment
The canyon was surrounded by rising terrain and mountains. The passenger confirmed that the airplane and its engine were operating without issue, and that weather was not a contributing factor to the collision.