19980305002789A

Flew into trees near destination in IMC. No weather brief reported. Near zero conditions in area. (.4)the non-instrument rated pilot departed indianapolis, IN, for French Lick, IN, to pick up passengers. The airplane crashed 12 miles northwest of the intended destination. The wreckage was located the following afternoon in a wooded area near the crest of a hill. Local weather at the time of the accident was reported to be 100 foot overcast with 1/8 mile visibility due to fog. The aircraft initially contacted 25-30 foot high trees and the wreckage distribution was observed to be 500-600 feet in length. Toxicological examination of samples from the pilot revealed the toxicological examination of the specimens taken revealed: 193 ug/ml diazepam was detected in blood, 212 ug/ml nordiazepam was detected in the blood, 1.2 ug/ml acetaminophen was detected in blood, temazepam was detected in blood, buspirone was detected in blood, oxymetazoline was detected in blood, nordiazepam was detected in urine, temazepam was detected in urine, oxazepam was detected in urine, buspirone was detected in urine, oxymetazoline was detected in urine, 125.2 ug/ml acetaminophen was detected in urine, diazepham is a prescription tranquilizer commonly used to treat anxiety or muscle spams. Nordiazepam, temazepam, and oxazepam are metabolites of diasepam. Buspirone is a prescription tranquilizer used to treat anxiety. Oxymetazoline is a common ingredient used in over-the-counter nasal decongestants and eye drops. Acetaminophen is an over-the-counter painkiller and fever reducer. Broken prescription bottles and a pill container were located in the wreckage along with numerous pills. According to the FAA creat lakes region medical division, pilots are prohibited from operating aircraft while taking diazepam and/or buspirone. (-23) on March 5, 1998, a Cessna 210L, N2546S, departed indianapolis metropolitan airport (ump) enroute to French Lick, IN airport (frh). The aircraft descended into terrain approximately 2 NM north northwest of orleans, IN on an uphill slope on a southwesterly heading. The aircraft struck trees and continued on an approximately 6 degree descent shearing first the right, then the left wing, with the fuselage coming to rest in a southwesterly dire ction approximately 700 feet from the initial impact point. A burn area located approximately 500 feet from the initial impact area appears to have been caused by fuel from the ruptured wing tanks. Minimal fire damage to the aircraft was found with most concentrated in the area of the wing fuel tanks. An interview with a commercial pilot, who was at the French Lick airport, located 13 NM southwest of the scene of the accident, at 0930 local time on March 5, 1998, revealed that weather conditions were approximately 100' ceiling, with 1/8 mile visibility. This coincides with the approximate time of the accident based on the investigation data. The pilot received fatal injuries.