Incident Overview
A non-instrument rated pilot operated a visual flight rules (VFR) flight that encountered instrument meteorological conditions (IMC). The pilot requested a special VFR clearance to enter the control zone and land at the destination. Subsequently, radio and radar contact with the flight was lost at 4,000 feet mean sea level (MSL) in the vicinity of the accident site.
Impact Details
The aircraft impacted upsloping terrain that was obscured in clouds, near the top of a hill at 4,000 feet MSL.
Toxicology
Toxicological tests indicated the presence of quinidine, a prescribed medication, at a concentration of 57.7 micrograms per milliliter in the blood. The normal therapeutic concentration range in plasma is 2.0 to 6.0 micrograms per milliliter.