History of Flight
On February 28, 2020, at 1949 central standard time, a Cessna 150M airplane, registration N407WJ, was destroyed when it struck mesquite trees and terrain near the Port Isabel-Cameron County Airport (PIL) in Port Isabel, Texas. The pilot sustained fatal injuries. The flight was conducted under Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight.
According to the airplane’s co-owner, around 1530 the pilot asked if he would like to perform touch and go landings at PIL. The co-owner declined and had no further contact with the pilot.
Air traffic control radar data indicated that the airplane departed runway 13 about 1943. After takeoff, the pilot completed one left traffic pattern. Radar data could not determine whether the pilot subsequently performed a touch-and-go or a go-around. The airplane then turned left crosswind for runway 13, and the last radar target showed the airplane at 250 ft above ground level and 125 knots ground speed. No witnesses were present.
The wreckage was located on March 1, 2020.
Wreckage and Impact Information
Postaccident examination revealed that the airplane impacted mesquite trees and terrain, followed by a postimpact fire. The outboard 8 ft of the left wing and portions of the nose landing gear were found near the initial impact point. The wreckage was distributed along a 20° heading over approximately 120 ft. The cockpit, fuselage, right wing, engine, and empennage were consumed by fire. The left wing exhibited leading edge crush damage. Flight control cable continuity was established from the cockpit to all flight control surfaces. The flap actuator was thermally damaged, preventing determination of its position.
The engine and accessories were thermally damaged, and the propeller would not rotate. Cylinders examined with a borescope displayed normal operating signatures. One propeller blade was bent aft, and one was twisted in the direction of rotation. Both blades were partially consumed by fire. Two tree branches displayed 45° cuts. Examination of the airframe and engine revealed no anomalies that would have precluded normal operation.
Medical and Pathological Information
The Cameron County Forensic Pathology office in Harlingen, Texas, performed an autopsy. The cause of death was listed as blunt force trauma. Toxicology testing at the Federal Aviation Administration Forensic Sciences Laboratory identified delta-9-THC (the primary psychoactive component in marijuana), its inactive metabolite carboxy-Delta-9-THC, and its active metabolite 11-Hydroxy-Delta-9-THC in urine, liver, and lung. Levels of delta-9-THC were 1.5 ng/ml in urine, 2.9 ng/gm in liver, and 39.4 ng/gm in lung. No blood was available for testing.
The marijuana plant contains cannabinoids; delta-9-THC is the primary psychoactive compound. Significant performance impairments are usually observed for at least 1-2 hours following marijuana use, and residual effects have been reported up to 24 hours. However, it is difficult to relate blood levels of delta-9-THC to effects, and there is no mechanism for relating levels in other specimens to psychoactive effects.