Accident Summary
The aircraft sustained substantial damage when it struck power lines during an emergency descent at night. The pilot had departed to maintain night flying currency and practice night takeoffs and landings. After encountering light rain, the pilot decided to return to the departure airport. The engine lost power, and the pilot executed a forced landing to a "desolate street," but the aircraft impacted wires. The airplane remained tangled in the power line wires, and emergency personnel removed the pilot from the suspended aircraft approximately two hours later.
Pilot Background
According to the pilot's statements, the flight was intended to fulfill night currency requirements. The pilot held a current second-class medical certificate dated April 21, 2005. His most recent application for that certificate indicated "no" in response to questions about alcohol dependence or abuse. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) medical records showed a history of alcohol-related traffic offenses since at least 20 years of age, which was 17 years prior to the accident. A June 2002 letter from the FAA noted that continued medical certification was contingent upon total abstinence from alcohol.
Post-Accident Examination
Inspection revealed that the left fuel tank contained no fuel, while fuel "poured" out of the right fuel tank when it was drained. The fuel tanks were not compromised, and no fuel leaks were observed. The fuel selector was positioned to the left fuel tank. The total flight duration was approximately 2.3 hours.
Toxicology Results
The pilot's blood sample showed an ethanol concentration of 0.286 grams per 100 milliliters. The Federal Aviation Regulation (FAR) Part 91.17 legal limit for alcohol is 0.04 grams per 100 milliliters.