Accident Details
The accident occurred at night under visual meteorological conditions with calm winds. The pilot was turning from the base leg to final approach at his home airport when the airplane stalled and entered an uncontrolled descent. The wreckage came to rest 410 feet from the approach end of the active runway. Ground scars and deformation signatures indicated a high vertical impact component with minimal horizontal energy.
Wreckage Examination
A thorough examination of the wreckage revealed no mechanical anomalies that would have prevented normal operation of the engines or control systems. The airplane appeared to be in working condition prior to impact.
Pilot Information
No personal flight records were found for the pilot. However, according to interviews with acquaintances and family members, the pilot flew frequently. On his most recent FAA airman medical application, dated approximately one year before the accident, he reported a total flight time of 5,700 hours, with 75 hours flown in the preceding six months.
Medical and Toxicology Findings
Review of the pilot's medical records from his personal physician indicated that he had been experiencing back pain that significantly interfered with his ability to sleep. Toxicology results revealed extremely high levels of doxylamine, a highly sedating over-the-counter antihistamine often used in sleep aids such as Unisom Sleep Tabs. The substance had likely accumulated due to daily use and/or use in excess of the maximum recommended dose. The pilot was likely having difficulty obtaining adequate and/or quality sleep.