NTSB Factual Report

HISTORY OF FLIGHT

On November 9, 1994, at 0150 central daylight time, a Cessna 152, N24834 was destroyed following a collision with terrain near Dresden, Tennessee. The flight instructor and the student pilot were both fatally injured in the accident. The aircraft was being operated under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91, by the flight instructor. Visual meteorological conditions existed at the time, and no flight plan had been filed for the local personal flight. The flight departed Union City, Tennessee at an undetermined time.

Witnesses stated that the instructor taught a class on instrument flying at the local college from 1900 to 1950 on the evening of November 8, 1994. The student pilot, who had also been dating the instructor for approximately 6 months, had attended the class at the college. The instructor, the student pilot, and another student/witness went to the Cadillac Bar in Martin, Tennessee following the class. The witness stated that he had to leave the bar at 2100, but that prior to his departure from the bar, the instructor had consumed three beers, and the student pilot had consumed two beers. He stated that during their conversations, no mention of going flying that evening had been made by the instructor.

Another witness stated that she met the instructor pilot and the student pilot at the Keg Bar in Fulton, Kentucky about 2200 on the evening of November 8, 1994. She was with the couple until a little after 2400. She stated that during the period she was with the couple, they were both consuming bottled whiskey and beer. She stated that she could not be exact about the amount of alcohol the couple consumed during the period, but that it was "quite a lot". She stated that during the conversations that night, the couple had mentioned going flying. She stated that she and her companion were invited to go flying with the couple, but that she thought that they were joking and did not pay much attention to the invitation. She stated that her observation of the couple when she left them was that they both had too much to drink to operate any kind of motor vehicle.

Witnesses in the area of the accident reported hearing a loud noise about 0150. The aircraft wreckage was discovered in the wooded area about 0830.

PERSONNEL INFORMATION

Mr. David Hazlett, one of the pilot's in the aircraft, held a commercial pilot certificate with airplane single engine, and instrument airplane ratings. He also held a flight instructor certificate with airplane single engine, and instrument airplane ratings. He held a second class medical certificate.

Ms. Janice Copeland, the other pilot in the aircraft held a student pilot certificate and a third class medical certificate. A plastic bag, containing 1.6 grams of a white powder, later identified as cocaine, was found in a purse which was identified as belonging to Ms. Copeland.

Additional personnel information may be obtained in this report on page three under First Pilot Information, and in Supplement E under Second Pilot Information.

AIRCRAFT INFORMATION

The Cessna 152 is a two place, single engine, fixed tricycle gear airplane.

Additional aircraft information may be obtained in this report on page two under section titled Aircraft Information.

METEOROLOGICAL INFORMATION

Visual meteorological conditions existed at the time of the accident.

Additional meteorological information may be obtained in this report on page three under section titled Weather Information.

WRECKAGE INFORMATION

The aircraft impacted a wooded area on a magnetic heading of 115 degrees. The initial impact was in the top of pine trees about 75 feet above ground level. The aircraft wreckage was distributed from that point over an area about 225 feet in length.(See Wreckage Diagram Attached to This Report For Details.)

Continuity of the aircraft flight controls was established for the rudder and elevator into the cockpit area. The aileron cables were fractured in several places outside the cabin section of the aircraft. All fractures of the cables were typical of tensile overload fractures.

There was continuity of the engine drive train. The propeller showed signs of chordwise scratching, and twisting toward low pitch. Fuel was found in the aircraft fuel strainer.

Examination of the magneto's revealed that the left magneto produced spark from all four spark plug leads. The right magneto suffered impact damage, and was not operable.

MEDICAL AND PATHOLOGICAL INFORMATION

An autopsy of Mr. Hazlett was conducted by Dr. Francisco of The Tennessee Department of Health and Environment Office of The Chief Medical Examiner.

A toxicological examination of Mr. Hazlett was conducted by The Office of The Chief Medical Examiner. The Toxicological report was positive for the use of cocaine and alcohol. The report stated that there was 0.16 grams/deciliter of alcohol, 0.48 ug/gram of cocaine, 1.72 ug/gram of benzoyecgonine, and 0.56 ug/gram of ecgonine methyl ester in the liver, (See Supplement K, and Toxicological Report Attached to This Report.)

An autopsy of Ms. Copeland was conducted by Dr. Francisco of The Tennessee Department of Health and Environment Office of The Chief Medical Examiner.

A toxicological examination of Ms. Copeland was conducted by The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner. The toxicological report was included in the autopsy report of Ms. Copeland. The report was positive for the use of cocaine and alcohol. The report stated that the blood had 0.09 grams/deciliter of ethyl, 0.16 ug/ml of cocaine, 0.10 ug/ml of ecgonine methyl ester, and 0.45 ug/ml benzoyecgonine. (See Supplement K, and Autopsy Report Attached to This Report.)

The Medical Examiner, Dr. Francisco, in Memphis Tennessee refused to send toxicological samples of the victims to the Federal Aviation Administration laboratories in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma when requested to do so.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

The aircraft wreckage was released to the owners insurance representative, Mr. Joe Kothe, on November 10, 1994.

NTSB Probable Cause

THE PILOT IN COMMAND'S (CFI) IMPAIRMENT OF JUDGMENT AND PERFORMANCE DUE TO ALCOHOL AND DRUGS, WHICH LED TO HIS FAILURE TO MAINTAIN SEPARATION FROM TERRAIN.