Incident Overview
An aircraft operating under an instrument flight plan encountered difficulties shortly after departure. The pilot contacted departure control and reported a problem with the gyroscopic instruments. Following this report, the aircraft continued flying for approximately two minutes. During this period, the heading, altitude, and airspeed fluctuated, and the pilot did not comply with any instructions from air traffic control. The aircraft subsequently crashed into a residential area.
Pilot Information
The pilot held approximately 5,800 hours of total flight experience, including 120 hours within the preceding six months. He had logged 1,308 hours of actual instrument experience. Examination of the horizontal situation indicator gyro revealed static marks consistent with no or minimal rotation.
Toxicological Findings
Toxicological analysis of the pilot detected 3.239 µg/ml (µg/g) of butalbital, a barbiturate, in muscle tissue. Medical records from a non-FAA 'Adult Physical Examination' form noted a past medical history of migraine headaches with use of Fiorinal—a medication containing butalbital, aspirin, and caffeine—up to two times per week. The 1999 Physician's Desk Reference listed the most frequent adverse reactions to Fiorinal as drowsiness and dizziness. Prescription records indicated that between 1992 and October 1999, the pilot had been prescribed over 6,000 tablets of Fiorinal or its generic equivalent, with 800 of those within the last year. On all his FAA medical applications, the pilot denied taking any prescription or nonprescription medication and stated he had never suffered from severe or frequent headaches.
Investigation Status
The investigation into the accident is ongoing. No further details have been released at this time.