What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
Disoriented pilot hit wires during low level flying. Minimal night experience and 130LBS of marijuana on board. (.4)while on a cross-country flight, the newly certificated private pilot became lost and disoriented and failed to follow instructions for assistance by air traffic control. During maneuvering flight in the vicinity of a city, he flew the aircraft in close proximity to the ground and struck power lines. Light condition was night, and visibility was 7 miles. Approximately 200 pounds of marijuana was found in the rear seat of the aircraft by sheriff's deputies. Investigation revealed the pilot had 63 hours total flight time 3.2 hours of which were at night. His private pilot certificate was issued less than 2 weeks before the accident, and he had no previous flight experience in the area where the accident occurred.
As the FAA filed it
DISORIENTED PILOT HIT WIRES DURING LOW LEVEL FLYING. MINIMAL NIGHT EXPERIENCE AND 130LBS OF MARIJUANA ON BOARD. (.4)WHILE ON A CROSS-COUNTRY FLIGHT, THE NEWLY CERTIFICATED PRIVATE PILOT BECAME LOST AND DISORIENTED AND FAILED TO FOLLOW INSTRUCTIONS FOR ASSISTANCE BY AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL. DURING MANEUVERING FLIGHT IN THE VICINITY OF A CITY, HE FLEW THE AIRCRAFT IN CLOSE PROXIMITY TO THE GROUND AND STRUCK POWER LINES. LIGHT CONDITION WAS NIGHT, AND VISIBILITY WAS 7 MILES. APPROXIMATELY 200 POUNDS OF MARIJUANA WAS FOUND IN THE REAR SEAT OF THE AIRCRAFT BY SHERIFF'S DEPUTIES. INVESTIGATION REVEALED THE PILOT HAD 63 HOURS TOTAL FLIGHT TIME 3.2 HOURS OF WHICH WERE AT NIGHT. HIS PRIVATE PILOT CERTIFICATE WAS ISSUED LESS THAN 2 WEEKS BEFORE THE ACCIDENT, AND HE HAD NO PREVIOUS FLIGHT EXPERIENCE IN THE AREA WHERE THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.