Accident Details
The airplane collided with a dirt berm during an aborted landing. A witness observed the airplane make erratic S-turns while taxiing to the active runway and an erratic climb after takeoff. According to the surviving passenger in the front-right seat, after a 25-minute flight, the pilot made an approach and touched down over halfway down the runway. The airplane landed hard and bounced back airborne, continuing down the runway about 2 to 3 feet above ground level. After reaching the end of the runway, the airplane touched back down. The pilot attempted to abort the landing, but the airplane continued into brush and impacted a dirt berm.
Toxicology and Pilot History
A bartender reported that about 5.5 hours prior to the accident, she served the pilot four alcoholic beverages, though he never appeared intoxicated. The pilot and two passengers left the bar together about 1 to 2 hours prior to the accident, and a designated driver transported them to the airport. The designated driver stated the pilot did not appear intoxicated.
Post-accident FAA toxicological tests found the pilot's post-mortem blood ethanol level was 0.365 percent and post-mortem urine ethanol level was 0.357 percent. Although there was evidence of putrefaction, careful analysis established that most of the ethanol was from ingestion, and at the time of the accident, the pilot's blood alcohol concentration was at or above 0.30 percent.
Pilot Background and Records
On his FAA medical certificate application, the pilot reported one Driving Under the Influence (DUI) conviction over 5 years prior to the accident (2 years prior to submitting the application). FAA medical records contained no details of that DUI, but arrest records noted his BAC was 0.28 percent during that arrest. Review of FBI records indicated the pilot had three additional drug and/or alcohol-related convictions, including another DUI about 12 years prior to the accident.
According to a senior legal attorney for the FAA, the agency does not have legal authority to routinely access FBI criminal records. The FAA only references FBI records in rare instances when credible information suggests multiple unreported convictions may exist. The National Driver Register (NDR) data may not show all convictions due to state variances and periodic purges, whereas the FBI database retains all convictions.
Mechanical Examination
Post-accident examinations of the airframe and engine revealed no evidence of mechanical malfunctions or failures.