Background
The pilot joined a flying club and completed a checkout in a PA-28-161, a type he had not flown before. He was instructed not to fly the airplane cross-country and to accumulate an additional 5 hours locally. Although the aircraft had been upgraded from a 160 to a 180 horsepower engine, he was told not to fly it with three adult passengers. The pilot scheduled the airplane for two days. He obtained a standard weather briefing for a VFR flight from Reno, Nevada, to Hawthorne, Nevada, and an outlook briefing for Denver, Colorado. He filed a VFR flight plan to Hawthorne, but there is no record that he flew to that destination.
Disappearance and Recovery
The airplane, with the pilot and three adult passengers on board, was reported missing. Six days later, fishermen discovered airplane debris floating in Upper Marvine Lake, approximately 30 miles east of Meeker, Colorado. The debris was identified as coming from the missing airplane. The aircraft had stopped in Meeker for fuel and was en route to the Denver area.
Examination
The wreckage was recovered, and examination disclosed no discrepancies with the airframe, engine, or propeller. The airplane was estimated to have been 111 pounds overweight when it departed Meeker, elevation 6,421 feet msl.
Toxicological Findings
Toxicological tests revealed the pilot had amphetamine and methamphetamine in his blood and urine. The levels found in the blood were high, suggestive of regular use and probable addiction. The effects of methamphetamine include increased alertness, euphoria, insomnia, and increased self-confidence. Long-term use could lead to paranoia, loss of physical coordination, and weight loss. If use were to be discontinued, within hours a regular user might experience severe withdrawal symptoms, including depression, fatigue, abdominal cramps, and headache. Overdoses may result in loss of consciousness or seizures. Regular users can tolerate high doses. The levels found in the blood indicate the pilot had recently used methamphetamine and was impaired by its effect.