Dexter, MO, USA
N3174J
CESSNA 150
The private pilot was flying the airplane on a local night flight; the airplane was subsequently located in a heavily wooded area, and it had impacted trees, brush, and terrain and come to rest upright. The pilot reported that he had no recollection of the accident. The pilot did recall waking up inside the airplane after the accident and that it was dark outside and that the weather was not an issue. An examination of the airplane revealed that there was no fuel in either wing fuel tank, and no evidence of fuel was found around the accident site. Examination of the airplane, engine, and systems revealed no evidence of any preimpact anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. Analysis of the pilot's blood and urine samples revealed that he had a blood alcohol level of 0.075% 3 hours after the accident. Based on the elimination rate of alcohol from the system, his blood alcohol level would have been between about 0.11% and 0.13% at the time of the accident, which would have impaired his decision-making abilities and psychomotor performance. Marijuana was detected in urine; however, confirmation testing was not performed, so the investigation was unable to determine if the pilot's use of marijuana before the flight enhanced his impairment or contributed to the accident. It is likely that alcohol ingestion impaired the pilot's decision-making abilities and led to his taking off and flying the airplane until the engine lost power due to fuel exhaustion.
On October 5, 2015, about 0430 central daylight time, a Cessna 150G, single-engine airplane, N3174J, impacted trees and terrain about two miles west from Dexter Municipal Airport (DXE), Dexter, Missouri. The pilot was seriously injured, and the airplane was substantially damaged. The airplane was registered to and operated by a private individual, as a 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. Night visual meteorological conditions (VMC) prevailed and a flight plan had not been filed for the local flight that departed about 0400 from DXE.The pilot stated he had no recollection of the events prior to the accident. He recalled waking up inside the airplane after it impacted trees and brush. It was dark outside. The pilot added he was an early riser and guessed he intended to perform some night flying and see the sun rise. The pilot later told a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector that he recalled leveling at 1,500 to 1,600 ft. and that he flew for about 30 minutes before his airplane fell "from the sky." He said weather was not an issue. The airplane impacted in a heavily wooded area and came to rest upright. Several large tree branches surrounded the airplane. The left wing tip was buckled aft and the right wing was bent upward about 20 degrees at the wing root. Both wings' leading edges were crushed aft. Both fuel tanks showed no fuel present. There was no evidence of fuel around the accident site. The forward and bottom fuselage, and engine cowling were crushed upward and broken aft. The propeller spinner showed a C-shaped dent in one side. One of the two propeller blades sustained minor damage and the other blade was bent aft near the blade tip. Flight control continuity was confirmed. No anomalies were found with the airplane's engine or systems. Toxicology testing by the (FAA) Civil Aeromedical Institute of specimens from the pilot revealed the following: 103 mg/dL, mg/hg Ethanol detected in urine. 30 mg/dL, mg/hg Ethanol detected in blood 1.784 ug/ml, ug/g Morphine detected in urine Tetrahydrocannabinol Carboxylic Acid (Marijuana) detected in urine The Missouri State Highway Patrol Crime laboratory analyzed a blood sample from the pilot three hours after the accident occurred. The test showed a blood alcohol of 0.075%. Hospital testing of a blood sample from the pilot about 5 hours after the accident showed a blood alcohol of 0.034%. Additionally, hospital urine drug screening was positive for cannabinoids, but confirmation testing was not performed. Per 14 CFR 91.17, no person may act or attempt to act as a crewmember of a civil aircraft while having 0.04% (0.040 g/dL) or more alcohol in the blood.
The pilot's impairment due to the ingestion of alcohol, which impaired his decision-making and resulted in his taking off and flying the airplane until the engine lost power due to fuel exhaustion.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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