Pilot Falls Asleep During Low-Altitude Pipeline Patrol Flight (N3402T)

Accident Sequence

The pilot was performing routine pipeline patrol operations. He was flying at an altitude of 300 feet above ground level. The pilot described the flight as uneventful, stating, "everything was quiet, and there was nothing to report." Sometime during the flight, the pilot fell asleep while at the controls. He later reported that the next thing he remembered was the aircraft striking the ground in an open wheat field. Following the impact, the aircraft slid for 240 feet before coming to rest in an upright position.

Pilot Sleep History

Investigators examined a sleep log kept by the pilot for the 72-hour period immediately prior to the accident. The log detailed the pilot's sleep patterns during that time. It showed no evidence of irregular sleep patterns.