On December 11, 1999, a Cessna 140A (registration N5347C) operated by Tommy W. Ballard was involved in an aviation accident near Harper, OR. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot-in-command's failure to maintain terrain clearance. Factors include meteorological conditions obscuring the pilot's visibility and incapacitation due to illegal substances. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
An airplane was substantially damaged and the pilot fatally injured after colliding with terrain in an isolated area. The aircraft was believed to have departed a ranch 12 miles away in heavy snow conditions with no flight plan or weather briefing.
Accident Overview
The airplane sustained substantial damage and the pilot was fatally injured when it collided with terrain in an isolated area of the state. The aircraft was believed to have departed from a ranch located approximately 12 miles southwest of the accident site. The departure was described in official reports as occurring in "heavy snow conditions."
Flight Preparations and Weather
No flight plan was filed for the flight, and there was no report indicating that the pilot received a weather briefing prior to departure. The nearest aviation weather reporting point was about 70 miles from the crash site. At the time of the accident, an AIRMET (Airmen's Meteorological Information) for mountain obscuration was in effect for the area.
Toxicology Findings
Toxicological testing was performed by the FAA Toxicological Laboratory on samples from the pilot. Blood, brain, and urine toxicological samples tested positive for amphetamine and methamphetamine.