Accident
On October 5, 2015, at about 0430 central daylight time, a Cessna 150G single-engine airplane, registration N3174J, impacted trees and terrain approximately two miles west of Dexter Municipal Airport (DXE), Dexter, Missouri. The pilot was seriously injured, and the airplane sustained substantial damage. The flight was operated as a 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight by a private individual. Night visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed. The airplane had departed DXE about 0400 for a local flight.
The pilot stated he had no recollection of events prior to the accident. He recalled waking up inside the airplane after the impact with trees and brush. It was dark outside. He added that he was an early riser and guessed he intended to perform some night flying and see the sunrise.
Later, the pilot told a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector that he recalled leveling at 1,500 to 1,600 feet and that he flew for about 30 minutes before the airplane fell "from the sky." He said weather was not an issue.
Aircraft and Damage
The airplane came to rest upright in a heavily wooded area, surrounded by several large tree branches. The left wing tip was buckled aft, and the right wing was bent upward about 20 degrees at the wing root. Both wings' leading edges were crushed aft. Examination of the fuel tanks revealed no fuel present, and no evidence of fuel was found around the accident site. The forward and bottom fuselage, and engine cowling, were crushed upward and broken aft. The propeller spinner showed a C-shaped dent on one side. One of the two propeller blades sustained minor damage, and the other blade was bent aft near the tip. Flight control continuity was confirmed. No anomalies were found with the airplane's engine or systems.
Pilot Information
The pilot was the sole occupant. His recollection of the flight was limited, and he reported no awareness of the accident sequence. He had no memory of anything unusual before the impact.
Toxicology Findings
Toxicology testing by the FAA Civil Aeromedical Institute of specimens from the pilot revealed:
- 103 mg/dL ethanol in urine
- 30 mg/dL ethanol in blood
- 1.784 µg/mL morphine in urine
- Tetrahydrocannabinol carboxylic acid (marijuana) in urine
The Missouri State Highway Patrol Crime Laboratory analyzed a blood sample taken from the pilot three hours after the accident, showing a blood alcohol concentration of 0.075% (0.075 g/dL). Hospital testing of a blood sample taken about five hours after the accident showed a blood alcohol concentration of 0.034% (0.034 g/dL). Additionally, hospital urine drug screening was positive for cannabinoids, but confirmation testing was not performed.
Per 14 CFR 91.17, no person may act or attempt to act as a crewmember of a civil aircraft while having 0.04% (0.040 g/dL) or more alcohol in the blood. The pilot's blood alcohol levels three hours post-accident exceeded this limit.