On April 2, 1995, a Maule M-5-235C (registration N56349) was involved in an aviation accident near Rush City, MN. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: THE PILOT'S POOR JUDGMENT IN ATTEMPTING TO LAND IN THE EXISTING WIND CONDITIONS. HIS LACK OF EXPERIENCE WAS A FACTOR. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
An aircraft experienced significant instability and an abrupt descent while entering the traffic pattern during high wind conditions.
What happened
A witness observed the aircraft as it entered the airport traffic pattern. The observer reported that the airplane was bouncing, rolling, and wobbling from side to side before it began to descend abruptly toward the ground. According to the airport manager, winds at the time were estimated to be from the southeast with gusts reaching approximately thirty knots.
The investigation
An examination of the wreckage showed no evidence of any malfunction occurring prior to the impact. The pilot had held a private pilot certificate for seven months at the time of the accident, with 6ASS64.7 total flight hours listed on their application.
Findings
Toxicological analysis of the pilot's blood specimen revealed levels of chlorpheniramine at 0.021 ug/ml and diphenhydramine at 0.098 ug/ml. For context, therapeutic ranges for these substances are 0.016-0.070 and 0.100, respectively. Both chlorpheniramine and diphenhydramine are active ingredients in various nonprescription cold and allergy medications and are known to cause drowsiness.