What happened
Approximately two minutes after takeoff from an airport situated about 0.9 miles north of the crash site, the aircraft struck the terrain. Witnesses observed the airplane enter a left bank turn at an altitude of approximately 200 feet above ground level. The subsequent impact with the ground was consistent with a low-speed, nose-down attitude.
The investigation
A physical examination of the aircraft revealed no mechanical anomalies. However, a toxicology report for the pilot indicated the presence of diphenhydramine in both the blood (0.058 ug/ml) and urine. Diphenhydramine is an over-the-counter antihistamine used to treat allergy symptoms, nausea, and itching, which is known to have sedative effects.