Accident Details
An agricultural airplane was returning from its first spray load of the day when it impacted trees and a swampy canal while on final approach to land. The pilot had radioed to the ground crew that he was inbound for landing, after which no further communication was received. The airplane initially struck trees located on the east side of the canal, and the wreckage was subsequently found on the west side of the canal. Examination of the wreckage revealed that the flap actuator was set to the 10-degree extension position.
Aircraft Examination
A post-accident examination of the wreckage did not reveal any anomalies with the airframe, engine, or propeller that would have affected the aircraft's performance. The absence of mechanical issues suggests that the airplane was functioning normally at the time of the accident.
Pilot and Toxicology
Toxicology tests conducted on the pilot detected the presence of diphenhydramine in both blood and urine samples. Specifically, 0.037 ug/ml of diphenhydramine was found in the pilot's blood, and an unquantified amount was present in his urine. Diphenhydramine, commonly known by the trade name Benadryl, is an over-the-counter antihistamine used for managing allergic symptoms and also has sedative, antitussive, and antispasmodic effects.
The American College of Physicians-American Society of Internal Medicine conducted a study on the effects of diphenhydramine on driving performance. The results indicated that participants had significantly poorer driving performance after taking diphenhydramine compared to after taking alcohol or fexofenadine (Allegra), concluding that diphenhydramine had a greater impact on driving than alcohol did.