Accident Details
The emergency medical services airplane departed eastward under dark night visual conditions on a Part 135 commercial air ambulance flight to transport a 15-month-old patient between hospitals. Shortly after takeoff from an airport at elevation 6,814 feet, witnesses observed the aircraft initiate a left turn northward and disappear. Satellite tracking data indicated the airplane was at 6,811 feet, 115 knots, on a course of 072 degrees. The aircraft impacted terrain at 6,860 feet elevation about four miles southeast of the departure airport. All five occupants—the pilot, flight nurse, paramedic, patient, and patient's mother—were fatally injured. Authorities initiated a search after the airplane failed to arrive at its destination; wreckage was located the next morning.
Wreckage and Investigation
NTSB examination of the accident site revealed a debris path indicating a heading away from the destination airport. Initial tree impact occurred at 6,860 feet. Fragmented wreckage was scattered 1,100 feet down a 4.5-degree graded hill on a magnetic heading of 141 degrees. The aircraft's computed descent angle was 13 degrees, impact angle 8.5 degrees. A post-impact flash fire occurred. Engine and propeller assemblies showed signatures consistent with power at mid to high range. Flaps and landing gear were retracted, indicating no attempted landing. Flight control continuity was established; control cable and push rod breaks exhibited overload failures. No evidence of pre-impact mechanical malfunction was found.
Pilot and Toxicology
The pilot had 2,775 total flight hours, with only 23 hours in the accident airplane type. Toxicology testing detected chlorpheniramine (an over-the-counter antihistamine that causes impairment at typical doses) and acetaminophen (pain reliever/fever reducer often combined with chlorpheniramine). No blood was available, so time of last use and impairment level during the flight could not be determined.
Conclusion
The airplane was not equipped with a flight data recorder or cockpit voice recorder, nor were they required by Federal Aviation Regulations. The impact damage, dark night conditions, pilot experience level, and anomalous flight path are consistent with spatial disorientation.