What happened
The pilot was operating an aircraft on a cross-country flight when the incident occurred. At the time of departure, the airplane was climbing to and maintaining an altitude of 4,500 feet mean sea level (msl). The pilot reported that he did not recall any events following the takeoff phase.
Approximately 20 minutes after departing, the aircraft impacted a marsh area. The collision resulted in the total destruction of the airplane. Emergency responders and law enforcement personnel arrived at the scene shortly after the crash.
The investigation
Investigative interviews were conducted with the pilot following the accident. During these discussions, the pilot provided his account of the events leading up to the impact.
Law enforcement officers also spoke with the pilot at the site. He stated that he believed he may have fallen asleep during the flight. No other mechanical failures or environmental factors were cited as contributing to the loss of control.
Findings
The primary factor in this accident was the pilot's lapse in judgment regarding his physical condition while operating the aircraft. The pilot admitted to potentially falling asleep at the controls, which led directly to the uncontrolled descent and subsequent crash into the marsh terrain.
The pilot fell asleep while flying at 4,500 feet msl. This loss of consciousness resulted in the total destruction of the airplane. Despite the severity of the impact, the pilot survived with minor injuries. No fatalities were reported.