What happened
Following an uneventful initial flight, the pilot began a solo return flight. The flight proceeded normally under visual meteorological conditions until the pilot received clearance to descend from 8,000 feet MSL to 5,000 feet MSL. Radar tracking showed the aircraft type performing a steady descent at a rate of 500 feet per minute. However, radar contact was lost when the plane reached an altitude of roughly 400 feet AGL. The aircraft struck trees at the crest of a ridge while maintaining a level attitude, eventually coming to a stop in a ravine approximately 1,450 feet from the initial impact site. There were no fatalities reported, as the pilot was the sole occupant.
Findings
An inspection of the wreckage showed no evidence of mechanical failure or malfunctions prior to the impact. Investigations focused on the pilot's medical history, specifically a long-term diagnosis of Crohn's disease. While the pilot had been cleared for a first-class medical certificate by the FAA, his health had become unstable roughly five months before the crash, characterized by weight loss and blood loss that required blood transfusions and intravenous medication. Although the pilot's recent medical application stated he was not using any medications and had no health changes, post-accident toxicological analysis identified meperidine in the pilot's tissue.