LK HAVASU CITY, CA, USA
N3999W
PIPER PA-32-260
THE PILOT AND PASSENGER HAD FLOWN TO LAKE HAVASU TO VISIT THE PASSENGER'S RELATIVES AND FRIENDS WHO WERE VACATIONING ON A HOUSEBOAT. WITNESSES STATED THEY OBSERVED N3999W APPROACH AT A LOW ALTITUDE AND CIRCLE A PARTICULAR POINT ON THE LAKE. THEY ALSO STATED THE AIRPLANE WAS IN A RIGHT BANK AND GRADUALLY DESCENDED DURING THE TURNS UNTIL THE AIRPLANE IMPACTED THE WATER. A REVIEW OF THE PILOT'S LOGBOOK REVEALED HE HAD ACCUMULATED APPROXIMATELY 195 HOURS OF TOTAL FLIGHT TIME. THE TOXICOLOGY REPORT ON THE PASSENGER REVEALED HE TESTED POSITIVE FOR COCAINE AND HAD AN ELEVATED LEVEL OF ANTIHISTAMINES IN BLOOD AND TISSUE SAMPLES.
PILOT'S ATTENTION DIVERTED OUTSIDE THE AIRPLANE. THIS DIVERSION RESULTED IN THE PILOT FAILING TO MONITOR HIS ALTITUDE WHILE IN A DESCENDING TURN AND INADVERTENTLY FLYING THE AIRPLANE INTO THE WATER.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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