What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
Land owners reported sound of engine sputtering, engine accelerating and sound of impact into trees. Aircraft was not being tracked or communicating with ATC; however, review of ckb radar data revealed an aircraft on 1200 transponder code matching accident site GPS coordinates when flight track ended. Aircraft was level at 032 msl/ 095 heading until last 18 seconds of flight. Aircraft descended to 018 msl/ 102 heading on last radar track. Initial impact was at 1370 MSL.
Post accident medical case review by FAA indicated the following drugs detected in pilots system: amlodipine (high blood pressure and angina medication), mirtazapine (depression, anxiety, insomnia, hallucinations medication) and valsartan (high blood pressure medication). Medications and change of medical condition were not reported to FAA.
The WV state medical examiner autopsy could not determine cause and manner of death. The FAA was unable to verify aircraft condition at time of accident since aircraft was destroyed.
As the FAA filed it
LAND OWNERS REPORTED SOUND OF ENGINE SPUTTERING, ENGINE ACCELERATING AND SOUND OF IMPACT INTO TREES. AIRCRAFT WAS NOT BEING TRACKED OR COMMUNICATING WITH ATC; HOWEVER, REVIEW OF CKB RADAR DATA REVEALED AN AIRCRAFT ON 1200 TRANSPONDER CODE MATCHING ACCIDENT SITE GPS COORDINATES WHEN FLIGHT TRACK ENDED. AIRCRAFT WAS LEVEL AT 032 MSL/ 095 HEADING UNTIL LAST 18 SECONDS OF FLIGHT. AIRCRAFT DESCENDED TO 018 MSL/ 102 HEADING ON LAST RADAR TRACK. INITIAL IMPACT WAS AT 1370 MSL.
POST ACCIDENT MEDICAL CASE REVIEW BY FAA INDICATED THE FOLLOWING DRUGS DETECTED IN PILOTS SYSTEM: AMLODIPINE (HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE AND ANGINA MEDICATION), MIRTAZAPINE (DEPRESSION, ANXIETY, INSOMNIA, HALLUCINATIONS MEDICATION) AND VALSARTAN (HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE MEDICATION). MEDICATIONS AND CHANGE OF MEDICAL CONDITION WERE NOT REPORTED TO FAA.
THE WV STATE MEDICAL EXAMINER AUTOPSY COULD NOT DETERMINE CAUSE AND MANNER OF DEATH. THE FAA WAS UNABLE TO VERIFY AIRCRAFT CONDITION AT TIME OF ACCIDENT SINCE AIRCRAFT WAS DESTROYED.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.