Accident Overview
An experimental biplane collided with the frozen surface of a lake during a local area flight in daytime visual flight rules conditions. The pilot, who built, maintained, and raced the airplane, had accumulated over 700 hours in that aircraft. He also held a commercial air carrier pilot certificate and reported 30,000 total flight hours on his most recent airman medical application.
Aircraft and Wreckage Examination
A post-accident examination of the wreckage revealed no anomalies that would have precluded normal operation prior to impact.
Toxicology Findings
Located within the pilot's flight suit was a broken beer bottle. Post-mortem toxicology testing showed a chest blood ethanol level of 0.155 percent and a urine ethanol level of 0.279 percent. According to the investigation, these levels indicate recent ingestion of substantial amounts of alcohol, amounts that would render a non-tolerant individual unconscious or nearly so.
Pilot Background and FAA Awareness
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) was aware that the pilot's driver's license had been suspended 10 months before the accident, but had not obtained details of the underlying arrest. The arrest record for that suspension showed that the pilot had been driving a vehicle with a blood alcohol level exceeding 0.250. Had the FAA obtained this arrest record, they would have known that the pilot met the FAA's definition for substance dependence due to increased tolerance, and he likely would not have been issued a medical certificate without undergoing thorough evaluation and treatment.
Conclusion
The accident occurred in visual meteorological conditions, and the aircraft appeared to have been operating normally prior to impact. The investigation noted the presence of alcohol in the pilot's system but did not explicitly state a cause for the accident.