Accident Overview
The non-instrument rated pilot departed Indianapolis, Indiana, for French Lick, Indiana, to pick up passengers. The aircraft crashed 12 miles northwest of the intended destination. The wreckage was located the following afternoon in a wooded area near the crest of a hill.
Weather Conditions
Local weather at the time of the accident was reported to be 100-foot overcast with 1/8-mile visibility due to fog.
Toxicological Findings
Toxicological examination of samples from the pilot revealed several substances. Diazepam, a prescription tranquilizer commonly used for anxiety or muscle spasms, was detected in blood at 193 ug/ml and in urine. Metabolites of diazepam including Nordiazepam (212 ug/ml in blood), Temazepam, and Oxazepam were also found. Buspirone, another prescription tranquilizer for anxiety, was detected in blood and urine. Additionally, Acetaminophen (1.2 ug/ml in blood, 125.2 ug/ml in urine), an over-the-counter painkiller and fever reducer, and Oxymetazoline, a common ingredient in over-the-counter nasal decongestants and eye drops, were present. According to the Federal Aviation Administration Great Lakes Region Medical Division, pilots are prohibited from operating aircraft while taking Diazepam and/or Buspirone.
Additional Evidence
Broken prescription bottles and a pill container were located in the wreckage along with numerous pills. The aircraft initially contacted 25-30 foot high trees, and the wreckage distribution was observed to be 500-600 feet in length.