ERA24LA134

The pilot consumed alcohol and attempted a visual flight rules (VFR) cross-country flight over mountainous terrain in night instrument meteorological conditions. During the flight, the airplane had climbed to approximately 1,400 ft above ground level (agl), but the pilot experienced increasing rain intensity and decreasing ceiling heights. He repeatedly descended the airplane to remain below cloud layers and was at an altitude of about 300 ft agl when the airplane collided with trees about 5 miles from his intended diversionary airport. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions with the airplane. The FAA Forensic Sciences laboratory performed toxicological testing of specimens from the pilot collected by hospital personnel about 11.5 hours after the accident. Ethanol was detected in blood and serum at levels consistent with a blood alcohol level of 0.23 g/dL at the time of the accident, well above what FAA regulations permit.

On March 8, 2024, at 2310 central standard time, a Cessna 150L airplane, N1703Q, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Clay, Kentucky. The commercial pilot/flight instructor was seriously injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The pilot owned the airplane and based it at Owensboro Regional Airport (OWB), Owensboro, Kentucky. Due to his injuries, the pilot was unable to initially provide a full statement. According to information from the FAA, the airplane departed OWB at 2235 for an unknown destination. According to a Union County Sheriff report, their dispatch received an automatic notification about 2315 from a mobile telephone stating that the telephone had been involved in an accident and providing an address. Law enforcement, fire, rescue, and emergency management responded to the address and the resident there reported that she thought she heard what sounded like an airplane accident. The emergency responders searched the area for about 2 hours at night in heavy rain and did not see any sign of a motor vehicle or airplane accident. An officer responded to the address again during daylight hours and located the wreckage in a wooded area, about 300 yards from the provided address. The officer found the pilot and asked him what had happened. The pilot replied that “…he didn’t think he was that low.” He was subsequently transported by medical helicopter to a hospital. An FAA inspector examined the accident site and observed the wreckage inverted and oriented west. The wing fuel tanks were breached during impact. One propeller blade remained undamaged, and the other was bent at the tip. The transponder was found in the off position. The inspector recovered six unopened and one open alcoholic beverage cans from the wreckage. The inspector added that the seats were not equipped with shoulder harnesses. A Sentry ADS-B/GPS unit was recovered from the wreckage and forwarded to the NTSB Vehicle Recorders Laboratory, Washington, DC. Data were successfully downloaded and plotted. Review of the plots revealed that the flight proceeded toward Sturgis Municipal Airport (TWT), Sturgis, Kentucky, on a non-linear course, varying between altitudes of 300 ft and 1,400 ft agl. During the last 1 minute of flight, the airplane descended to and maintained about 300 ft agl before colliding with trees. The wreckage was located about 5 miles east of TWT. The reported weather at TWT, at 2315, included calm wind, visibility of 5 miles in rain, a broken ceiling at 700 ft, and an overcast ceiling at 1,300 ft. The FAA Forensic Sciences laboratory performed toxicological testing of hospital specimens from the pilot. The specimens had been collected by hospital personnel about 11.5 hours after the accident. Ethanol was detected in blood and serum at levels consistent with a blood alcohol level of 0.23 g/dL at the time of the accident. FAA regulation imposes strict limits on flyingafter consuming ethanol, including prohibiting pilots from flying with a blood ethanol level of 0.04 g/dL or greater. Although the pilot could not provide an initial statement due to his injuries, he made himself available for an interview with FAA inspectors about 2 months after the accident. During that meeting, the pilot confirmed that he had consumed alcohol before the flight. He had an argument with his wife about his consumption of alcohol and left his home. His intention was to fly to Madisonville Regional Airport (2I0), Madisonville, Kentucky, to check the weather, then fly on to the Florida panhandle for an overnight trip. Along his route, rain intensity increased and the cloud ceiling height decreased. He recalled continually descending to remain below clouds but impacted terrain while trying to divert to TWT. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions with the airplane.