Overview
A pilot was observed departing a bar at approximately 0230 hours carrying a twelve-pack of beer and accompanied by two individuals later identified as the airplane's passengers. The following day, the bodies of the pilot and the two passengers washed ashore. Most of the airplane was not recovered, but some parts also washed ashore, including aircraft seats that had been torn from their tracks and a section of the left wing bearing the aircraft serial number in black ink.
Toxicological Findings
Toxicology tests on the pilot's blood and urine detected multiple substances. Blood samples were positive for ethanol (144 mg/dL), acetaldehyde (20 mg/dL), tetrahydrocannabinol carboxylic acid (marijuana metabolite, 0.004 µg/mL), diazepam (0.16 µg/mL), nordiazepam (0.179 µg/mL), benzoylecgonine (cocaine metabolite, 0.378 µg/mL), and hydrocodone (0.019 µg/mL). Urine samples were positive for ethanol (227 mg/dL), acetaldehyde (6 mg/dL), tetrahydrocannabinol carboxylic acid (0.026 µg/mL), cocaine (1.642 µg/mL), ecgonine methyl ester (0.982 mg/mL), and acetaminophen (5.7 µg/mL). Additionally, cocaethylene, oxazepam, hydrocodone, and hydromorphone were identified in the urine.
Physical Evidence
Recovered aircraft components included seats torn from their tracks and a left wing section with the aircraft serial number handwritten in black ink. The majority of the airplane was not recovered.