On October 8, 1996, a Cessna T210M (registration N761TQ) was involved in an aviation accident near Everett, WA. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's impairment of judgment and performance due to the recent excessive use of potent prescription drugs, the pilot's descent below the published decision height, and the pilot's failure to execute a missed approach. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
A 75-year-old private pilot failed to follow ATC vectors, flew through the ILS localizer, and descended at 1,000 ft/min at 150 knots before striking a power line 1,400 feet from the runway threshold.
Accident Sequence
During an instrument approach, a 75-year-old private pilot acknowledged all ATC vectors and instructions but did not operate the airplane accordingly. The airplane flew through the ILS localizer course during the initial vectoring, prompting ATC to cancel the clearance for the approach. ATC then re-vectored the airplane for another attempt; however, the pilot again failed to comply with the vectors. After being cleared for the approach, the pilot initiated a descent of about 1,000 feet per minute at a speed of 150 knots. The airplane struck a power line approximately 1,400 feet from the runway threshold, impacted terrain, and was destroyed.
Contributing Factors
The weather conditions at the time of the accident were below the published approach visibility minimums. Additionally, the pilot's medical certificate and the airplane's annual inspection had expired. Toxicological analysis revealed that the pilot was under the influence of a potent prescription narcotic during the approach. The pilot had a history of severe cardiovascular disease.