NTSB Factual Report

HISTORY OF FLIGHT

On November 23, 2012, at an undetermined time, a Piper PA28-160, N5076W, impacted desert terrain 30 miles south of Tacna, Arizona. The owner/pilot was operating the airplane under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91. The private pilot was fatally injured; the airplane sustained substantial damage. The personal flight departed Tucson International Airport (TUS), Tucson, Arizona, at 0957, with an unknown destination. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed.

On November 28, 2012, a US Customs and Border Patrol agent came across the aircraft accident site of a PA-28-160, N5076W. The accident site, located at 32 20 17.7N/-113 39 48.96W, was 28 miles south of highway 8, located inside the restricted area R-2301W and approximately 160 miles west of TUS.

The pilot's husband reported that he had received a voicemail from her. He stated that she appeared to be "acting paranoid," stating she was going to take the airplane flying to get away from "them."

Fueling records at Atlantic Aviation-Tucson established that the airplane was last fueled on November 23, 2012, with the addition of 15.1 gallons of 100LL-octane aviation fuel. At the pilot's request, the service technician also added air to the nose wheel tire. Afterwards he watched as the pilot taxied out, took off using taxiway "D," and flew southbound.

According to FAA Mandatory Occurrence Report (MOR) TUS-M-2012/11/23-001, an unidentified Piper PA-28 aircraft departed the Tucson International Airport (TUS), Tucson, Arizona, from taxiway D at 0957/1757 coordinated universal time (UTC). The pilot did not communicate with air traffic control prior to, during, or after departure. The pilot departed to the south and turned right toward Victor Airway 66/106. The air traffic facility filed the MOR.

According to the TUS air traffic control tower daily record of facility operation, FAA form 7230-4, dated November 23, 2012, the air traffic manager was notified of the event at 1006, and the domestic events network (DEN) 1 was notified at 1010.

PERSONNEL INFORMATION

A review of Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) airman records revealed that the 49-year-old pilot held a private pilot certificate with ratings for airplane single-engine land. No personal flight records were located for the pilot. The pilot last obtained a third-class medical certificate on April 25, 2001. It listed no limitations or waivers. At the time of the issuance of the medical certificate, the pilot reported a total flight time of 250 hours with 45 hours logged in the previous 6 months.

The pilot's husband reported that the pilot had been treated in the past for depression, a seizure disorder with no seizure in 3 to 4 years, and an opiate addiction. She used lamotrigine to treat her migraine headaches. He reported that his wife began acting strange about 3 to 4 weeks prior to the accident and made mention of seeing the face of god. In phone conversations with her husband the night prior to the accident, the pilot expressed concern about men in black helicopters watching her. According to the husband, on the day of the accident the pilot left a voice mail on his phone. He said that she appeared to be "acting paranoid," stating she was going to take the airplane flying to get away from "them."

AIRCRAFT INFORMATION

The airplane was a Piper PA28-160, serial number 28-85. No maintenance or logbook records for the airplane were located.

The engine was a Lycoming O-320-B2B, serial number L-4358-39. No maintenance or logbook records for the engine were located.

Fueling records at Tucson International Airport established that the airplane was last fueled on November 23, 2012, with the addition of 15.0 gallons of 100LL-octane aviation fuel.

WRECKAGE AND IMPACT INFORMATION

The accident site was located 28 miles south of highway 8, about 650 feet west of Papago Road, and located inside the restricted area R-2301W.

Investigators responded to the accident site and documented the wreckage.

Investigators examined the wreckage at the accident scene. The first identified point of contact (FIPC) was a ground scar. The debris path was along a magnetic heading of 140 degrees. The orientation of the fuselage was inverted facing 320 degrees.

The wreckage was located approximately 30 miles south of Tacna, 650 feet west of Papago Road, in flat desert terrain. The terrain elevation was measured using a GPS receiver and recorded as 851 feet mean sea level (msl). The terrain was sparsely populated with desert scrub bushes. The airplane was orientated from tail to nose, on a bearing of 140 degrees magnetic. The wings were attached to the fuselage and in their generally normal position relative to the fuselage.

MEDICAL AND PATHOLOGICAL INFORMATION

Postmortem examination of the pilot was conducted by the Yuma County Medical Examiner's Office on December 3, 2012. The Yuma County Arizona Medical Examiner determined the cause of death was multiple blunt force injuries and the manner of death was undetermined. The autopsy was limited due to the extent of injury and decomposition; no underlying natural disease was identified.

Toxicology testing was performed by the FAA's Civil Aerospace Medical Institute, but no blood was available for analysis. Testing detected ethanol in the liver (10 mg/hg) but did not detect ethanol in the muscle. The report stated, "The ethanol found in this case is from sources other than ingestion."

Diphenhydramine and lamotrigine was detected in liver and muscle. Tetrahydrocannabinol was detected in the lung (0.0165 ug/g), and its metabolite, tetrahydrocannabinol carboxylic acid, was detected in the liver (0.026 ug/g), kidney (0.0142 ug/g) and lung (0.0034 ug/g).

Diphenhydramine is a sedating antihistamine used to treat allergy symptoms and as a sleep aid. It is available over the counter under various trade names including Benadryl and Sominex. It carries the warning – "may impair mental and/or physical ability required for the performance of potentially hazardous tasks (e.g., driving, operating heavy machinery)."

Lamotrigine is a prescription anticonvulsant used to treat epilepsy and bipolar disorder; it may also be used to reduce migraine attacks. Common side effects include loss of balance or coordination, drowsiness and double vision. A rare side effect of lamotrigine is psychosis.

Tetrahydrocannabinol is the psychoactive compound found in marijuana. Effects of tetrahydrocannabinol range from euphoria, relaxed inhibitions, sense of well-being to disorientation, image distortion, and psychosis.

Additional medical records information, as well as a copy the CAMI toxicology report, is included in the public docket.

TESTS AND RESEARCH

Examination of the recovered airframe and engine was conducted on November 30, 2012, at the facilities of Air Transport in Phoenix, Arizona. A report of the examination is attached to the accident docket.

During the examination of the recovered airframe and engine, no evidence of pre-impact mechanical malfunction was noted that would have precluded normal operation.

The leading edge of both wings displayed front impact compression damage consistent with a high velocity impact at about 75-80 degrees from horizontal. The compression damage was consistent and symmetrical with both wings. The fuel tanks displayed no significant hydraulic deformation. The fuel caps were in place and secure. Flight control continuity was established.

The pitch trim drum showed an inner shaft upper extension of approximately 12 threads. This is consistent with a setting of about 75% nose up trim.

The fuselage displayed substantial frontal impact damage consistent with an impact of approximately 75-80 degrees from horizontal. The engine and propeller assembly had been pushed aft, even with the leading edge of the wing.

The tachometer displayed no case deformation, but the glass was missing. The register showed 3,625.60 hours, and the needle was at 750 rpms.

The propeller was secure to the engine. Both blades displayed aft bending, one blade about 30 degrees and the other about 45 degrees. Both blades displayed face polishing, and the paint was worn off. Damage to the blades was consistent with little or no power at the time of impact.

An Air Traffic Control Specialist with the National Transportation Safety Board submitted a factual report, which is attached to the public docket.

Review of the ATC radar data from Tucson air traffic control and radar data from en-route radars in the area did not provide radar returns coincidental to the suspected flight path of N5076W. AMOC reviewed radar data from an aerostat sensor and provided a partial radar track that could have been that of N5076W. AMOC reviewed primary radar data that appeared to stop abruptly at the location of the crash site and evaluated radar returns that led up to the crash site. AMOC detection enforcement officers utilized their best judgment to assess the most probable correlation of the observed radar data to the accident aircraft, however, they make no assertion that the visual radar plot is all or part of the accident aircraft flight path.

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilot’s failure to maintain airplane control. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s impairment due to acute psychosis with paranoid thoughts.