Accident Details
The pilot had flown the airplane to the airport on June 12, 2001, for maintenance. The pilot returned on the morning of July 21, 2001, to retrieve the airplane. There was no one at the airport who could confirm observing the pilot perform a pre-flight inspection before boarding. The pilot paid his bill and departed approximately two minutes later.
Witness Accounts
Witnesses heard the engine running roughly. They observed the airplane climb to an altitude of 200 to 300 feet above ground level, clear wires at the departure end of the runway, and then turn left with the left wing nearly perpendicular to the ground. The nose dropped, and the airplane impacted a cotton field and burst into flames. One witness reported that "it stalled and came straight down."
Post-Accident Examination
Examination of the engine did not reveal evidence of mechanical malfunction. Toxicology tests detected the following drugs in the pilot's blood, liver, and kidney: propoxyphene, norpropoxyphene, fluoxetine, and norfluoxetine.
Pilot Medical History
Medical records indicated that the pilot was taking prescribed medication for "frequent or severe headaches." According to the investigation, it is likely that the pilot was impaired at the time of the accident by the effects of propoxyphene, and possibly by the effects of narcotic dependence.