Accident Overview
An agricultural airplane was observed maneuvering at an altitude of 500 feet when it struck a 500-foot tower with its left wing. The tower was equipped with lights and was depicted on an aeronautical chart. After the impact, the airplane continued for approximately 700 feet from the tower base before impacting the ground.
Pilot Information
According to the operator, the pilot had accumulated approximately 15,000 total flight hours, of which about 11,000 hours were in the same make and model as the accident airplane.
Toxicological Findings
A toxicological test of the pilot's blood revealed the presence of 0.01 ug/ml cocaine, 0.212 ug/ml benzoylecgonine, and 0.296 ug/ml norfluoxetine. Benzoylecgonine is a metabolite of cocaine, and norfluoxetine is a metabolite of fluoxetine, a prescription antidepressant medication also known by the trade name Prozac. The pilot had not reported using any medication on his last medical certificate application.