What happened
The flight was cleared to descend to 3,000 feet, which the pilot acknowledged. Following this communication, no further radio contact was established. Radar tracking indicated the aircraft's last recorded position was approximately 20 miles northeast of the airport at an altitude of 2,900 feet, at which point the target disappeared from radar.
Witnesses located approximately two nautical miles east of the accident site reported hearing sounds resembling "back fire," "fireworks," and "crackling." One witness observed the airplane flying west over the treeline before hearing an impact. The wreckage was located in a heavily wooded area characterized by charred trees and burned pine straw. The engines were found embedded approximately five feet into the ground, with the chordline of the wings positioned approximately perpendicular to the ground.
The investigation
An examination of the airframe and engines revealed no evidence of mechanical malfunction. A toxicology report for the pilot identified the presence of bupropion, bupropion metabolite, sertraline, and desmethylsertraline in the liver, while bupropion metabolite and sertraline were also detected in the kidney.
A review of medical records from the pilot's physician indicated that the pilot had been prescribed drugs containing bupropion (Wellbutrin) and sertraline (Zoloft) for the treatment of depression. A physician's note from July 14, 2003, noted that the pilot was doing well on these medications and that his depression was stable. Additionally, medical records showed a history of atrial fibrillation and a prescription for sotalol. The investigation found that the pilot had failed to report any of these medical diagnoses or medications on applications for FAA Airman Medical Certificates.