What happened
During a night approach to his home airport, the pilot was operating the aircraft under dark conditions. While approximately five miles from the destination, the pilot communicated that he was adjusting the airport lighting on multiple occasions. Although the pilot typically provided frequent position updates while flying the landing pattern, no further radio transmissions were made following the lighting adjustments. The aircraft approached the airfield from the southeast in a descending flight path, passing the airport and slightly altering its course to the left.
A witness observed the aircraft initiate a left turn, followed by a nose-down pitch and a descent at a sharp angle. The aircraft subsequently struck the terrain while in a steep left bank, resulting in a cartwheel motion. Post-accident inspections of the engine, aircraft systems, and airframe showed no evidence of mechanical failure or anomalies prior to the impact, and all flight controls remained functional.
Findings
Investigation into the pilot's condition revealed significant factors related to fatigue and medication. On the day of the accident, the pilot had been awake for at least 17 hours and had completed over eight hours of flight time across two different time zones. The accident occurred after midnight relative to the pilot's departure time zone.
Toxicology results indicated the presence of amphetamine and doxylamine in the pilot's tissues. The pilot had been prescribed amphetamines for a long-standing diagnosis of ADHD, a condition for which the FAA does not provide medical certification for pilots using such medication. It was noted that the pilot's amphetamine levels might have been decreasing at the time of the crash, potentially contributing to increased fatigue and distraction. Additionally, the presence of doxylamine, a common sleep aid, suggested the pilot may have been struggling with sleep deprivation.