What happened
A witness observed the aircraft depart Runway 5 and begin a climb at a steep angle. Following this initial ascent, the aircraft turned toward the northwest before banking to the northeast. The flight path then transitioned into a steep descent, resulting in the aircraft striking the ground.
The investigation
An inspection of the wreckage conducted by a Federal Aviation Administration Inspector identified a control lock device installed on the right-hand flight control column; this device was secured with a locked padlock.
Toxicological analysis performed on the pilot revealed the presence of ethanol at several levels: 155 mg/dL (0.155%) in the blood, 187 mg/dL in the vitreous, and 205 mg/dL in the urine. These findings were evaluated against 14 CFR Part 91.17, which prohibits any person from acting as a crewmember of a civil aircraft while having an alcohol concentration of .04 percent by weight or more in the blood.