Incident Overview
The pilot and three passengers met at a local bar, where the pilot and one passenger consumed alcoholic beverages. The group agreed to go flying and stopped en route to the airport to purchase additional beer. According to a surviving passenger, shortly after takeoff, the aircraft leveled over trees and began to "tremble." The surviving passengers reported no memory of events after that point. The aircraft subsequently collided with trees approximately 1 mile from the airport and crashed.
Postcrash Examination
A postcrash examination of the aircraft structure, flight controls, and engine found no evidence of a precrash mechanical failure or malfunction. The airframe and systems appeared to have been functioning normally at the time of impact.
Toxicology Results
Toxicology tests performed on the pilot revealed alcohol levels of 0.122% in his blood and 0.134% in his vitreous fluid. One passenger also tested positive for alcohol, with a blood alcohol level of 0.042%. The other two passengers tested negative for alcohol.
Passenger Accounts
The surviving passenger who provided the account stated that after takeoff, the aircraft leveled over trees and began to tremble, but could not recall further details. The other surviving passengers also had no recollection of events following the trembling sensation.