- Date
- July 30, 1993, 05:51 local (12:51 UTC)
- Place
- Dayton, NV
- Injuries
- 1 fatal
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Unknown
- Aircraft
- N8185MCessna 182P
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Dawn
- Status
- Completed · report September 27, 1994
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19930730027239A
- Case key
- 28439
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain an altitude sufficient to clear terrain due to alcohol and drug impairment.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The airplane had been stolen from a flying club. The pilot had also broken into another airplane parked adjacent to the accident airplane and left a bottle of rum. The airplane collided with mountainous terrain about 6 mi se of Dayton. The pilot's toxicological results were positive for alcohol; ethanol was detected in the pilot's blood, vitreous fluid, and bile at concentrations of 79 mg/dl (0.079%), 113 mg/dl (0.113%), and 97 mg/dl (0.097%), respectively. In addition, chlordiazepoxide and nordiazepam were detected in the pilot's blood and liver. Concentration of chlordiazepoxide in the blood was 0.864 ug/dl, concentration of nordiazepam in the liver was 0.996 ug/dl. Chlordiazepoxide should not be taken in conjunction with alcohol use.
Factual narrative
On July 30, 1993, about 0551 hours Pacific daylight time, a Cessna 182P, N8185M, collided with mountainous terrain about 6 miles southeast of Dayton, Nevada. The airplane was destroyed and the certificated private pilot was fatally injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed in the accident area.
The airplane was stolen from the South Lake Tahoe Flying Club, South Lake Tahoe, California, at an undetermined time. Investigation of the theft by the South Lake Tahoe Police Department revealed the airplane parked adjacent to the stolen aircraft was also broken into. A bottle of rum was found in the airplane. Fingerprints from the bottle matched those of the deceased pilot.
A post mortem examination was conducted by the Washoe County Coroner's Office on July 31, 1993, with specimens retained for toxicological examination. According to the Coroner's report, the cause of death for the pilot was attributed to blunt force trauma.
The toxicological specimens were split. Specimens sent to the Sierra Nevada Laboratories, Inc., Reno, Nevada, tested positive for alcohol. The laboratory report listed the concentration at .097 G/DL.
Samples sent to the FAA's Civil Aeromedical Institute (CAMI) also tested positive for alcohol and drugs. The results of CAMI's toxicological analysis revealed: Ethanol detected in the blood, vitreous fluid, and bile, at concentrations of 79 mg/dl, 113 mg/dl, and 97 mg/dl, respectively.
Chlordiazepoxide and Nordiazepam were detected in the pilot's blood and liver. The concentration of Chlordiazepoxide in the blood was listed at .864 ug/ml in the CAMI report and the Nordiazepam was listed at .996 ug/ml in the liver.
Chlordiazepoxide is the generic name for several prescription drugs used for treatment of nervousness, tension, muscle spasm, or convulsive disorders. The drug, according to a Physician's Desk Reference, should not be taken in conjunction with alcohol use.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N8185M
- Reported as
- Cessna 182P
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 64554
- Airframe hours
- 3,012
- Engine
- Continental O-470, 230 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Part 91
- Registered owner
- S. Lake Tahoe Flying Club
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · October 27, 1992 · 67 hours before
- Departed
- TVL · S. Lake Tahoe, CA
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 40
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Expired
- Seat
- Left
- Toxicology
- Performed
- Flight hours
- 560 total · 3 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Dawn
- Wind
- 220° at 5 knots
- Visibility
- 40 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 52 °F, dew point 39 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- RNO, 26 nm away
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.
Other investigations on N8185M · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.