Accident Details
An unlicensed pilot and three passengers were conducting a local night flight in a high-performance airplane equipped with a 300-horsepower engine. The engine experienced a loss of power during the flight. The pilot decided to extend the landing gear and perform an emergency landing onto a lake. Upon impact with the water, the airplane nosed over and came to rest partially submerged in an inverted position.
The pilot exited the airplane unassisted. The three passengers remained onboard and subsequently drowned.
Investigation Findings
At the accident site, a local law enforcement officer detected a "strong" smell of alcohol on the pilot's breath and observed that his speech was slurred. When asked about alcohol consumption, the pilot stated that he had consumed two margaritas several hours earlier. Additionally, five bottles of liquor were found in the airplane, four of which were open.
The pilot was forced to submit to a blood draw approximately five hours and forty minutes after the accident and was arrested on anticipated charges of three counts of first-degree manslaughter. Toxicological testing on the pilot's blood samples tested negative for alcohol.
Pilot Background
The pilot did not hold, nor had ever held, a pilot certificate or a medical/student pilot certificate. Despite repeated requests by the Investigator-in-Charge (IIC), the pilot declined to submit a completed Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report Form (NTSB Form 6120.1) and also declined to submit his pilot logbook for examination. Consequently, it could not be determined how much flight time the pilot had accrued. However, the pilot reported to local law enforcement officers that he had not logged a flight in the previous five months.
FAA records revealed that the pilot had purchased the airplane approximately nine months prior to the accident. The previous owner, a certificated flight instructor (CFI), reported that he had provided approximately 10 hours of instruction to the pilot in the airplane.
Aircraft Examination
An examination of the airplane was performed. No pre-impact anomalies were noted. The reason for the loss of engine power could not be determined.