On August 19, 1977, a De Havilland DHC-2 Beaver (registration N67690) operated by James C. McKinney was involved in an aviation accident near Morrisville, United States of America in flight. One person was killed. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The aircraft entered an uncontrolled descent because the pilot became incapacitated due to alcohol impairment. This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A).
A single-engine aircraft crashed in Morrisville during a local flight from Titusville, resulting in the death of the pilot.
What happened
During a local flight originating from Titusville, the pilot lost control of the aircraft, which subsequently entered a steep dive. The descent ended when the plane struck Amtrak railroad catenary lines before impacting the ground in Morrisville. The impact and the resulting post-crash fire completely destroyed the aircraft.
There was only one person on board at the time of the accident, and the pilot sustained fatal injuries during the event.
Findings
Official investigations concluded that the crash was caused by an uncontrolled descent resulting from pilot incapacitation. Several contributing factors were identified during the inquiry:
The pilot's efficiency and judgment were impaired by alcohol consumption.
Testing revealed a blood alcohol concentration of 1.49‰.
The flight path intersected with Amtrak railroad catenary lines, which were struck during the descent.
Probable cause
The aircraft entered an uncontrolled descent because the pilot became incapacitated due to alcohol impairment.