Accident Sequence
The pilot, who was not instrument-rated, departed Napa around 0200 for a return flight to Concord (Buchanan Field). At 0235, the pilot contacted Travis Air Force Base approach control and reported being unable to land at Buchanan Field due to weather. He requested radar vectors to Rio Vista Airport, about 12 miles east of Travis AFB. After being vectored to Rio Vista, the pilot could not see the airport. Controllers informed him that most airports in the area were fogged in.
Flight Path
Air traffic control then vectored the pilot to Sacramento to intercept a localizer final approach course. The pilot was unable to track the localizer and received corrective vectors on final. He missed the airport as visibility was below minimums due to fog, though he reported seeing lights when flying over the airport. ATC coordinated a radar approach to Travis AFB, which was also below minimums because of fog. The pilot accepted a vector to the final approach course for a radar-guided instrument approach. He followed the radar controller's guidance and reported seeing the runway lights but was unable to land on the 10,995-foot-long runway. The pilot turned the airplane to the right while trying to maintain visual contact with the runway lights. The airplane collided with level terrain while turning back toward the airport, about half a mile from the runway.
Fuel Status
The accident occurred 25 minutes after the pilot reported to air traffic control that he had only 15 minutes of fuel remaining. At the accident site, less than 3 gallons of fuel were found on the airplane.
Toxicology
Toxicology tests revealed the pilot tested positive for amphetamine, carbamazepine (an antiseizure medication), and fluoxetine (Prozac, an antidepressant) at very high levels.