Flight History
The pilot, who was not rated for instrument flight, departed at 0211 under dark night conditions. The weather included ceilings of 1,400 feet broken and 2,200 feet overcast. Radar tracking showed the aircraft reaching an altitude of 2,000 feet before entering a left, descending spiral.
Wreckage and Impact
The last radar target was observed within half a mile of the crash site. The distribution of wreckage and tree strikes indicated that the aircraft had a steep descent angle at impact.
Toxicology
Toxicological testing of the pilot revealed the presence of multiple substances. The blood levels were 0.020 µg/ml or µg/g of amphetamine, 0.092 µg/ml or µg/g of methamphetamine, and 0.005 µg/ml or µg/g of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the active substance in marijuana.