Accident Details
The solo flight of a student pilot departed at approximately 0725 with a Hobbs meter reading of 29.1 hours for a planned one-hour flight. The flight school contacted the Air Traffic Control Tower around 1010 regarding the flight, and later contacted the Automated Flight Service Station (AFSS) at about 1100 to report it overdue. The Air Force Rescue Coordination Center detected an emergency locator transmitter signal at 1041 and was notified of the overdue airplane by 1401. The Civil Air Patrol was contacted at 1410, and by 1449 a search airplane was arranged. The wreckage was found at 1549.
Radar track data indicated the airplane climbed northwest after departure, reaching a maximum altitude of 2,700 feet at 0732:35. It remained at that altitude until 0734:05, then descended and turned northeast. At 0736:55, the airplane was at 1,900 feet and turning west. The last radar return at 0740:36 showed the airplane at 1,400 feet. The accident site was below that last return. The Hobbs meter at the site read 29.5 hours.
Findings
An on-scene examination revealed no pre-impact anomalies with the airframe or engine. Toxicological evaluation detected diphenhydramine, an over-the-counter antihistamine with sedative effects, in the pilot's blood, consistent with recent ingestion. No antidepressant medications were detected, despite the pilot's history of chronic depression and suicidal thoughts when off such medications. The pilot did not disclose his depression or medication use on his FAA Airman Medical Certificate application. The pilot reportedly suffered from seasonal allergies.
Pilot Background
The pilot had a history of chronic depression, at times accompanied by suicidal thoughts or intent, particularly when not taking antidepressant medications. He did not indicate his use of antidepressant medications or his history of depression on his only application for an FAA Airman Medical Certificate.