NTSB Factual Report

HISTORY OF FLIGHT

On January 9, 2015, about 1615 mountain standard time, a Cirrus Design Corp. SR22, N383GM, sustained substantial damage when it impacted water about 7 miles north of the Bolinder Field-Tooele Valley Airport (TVY), Tooele, Utah. The airplane was registered to and operated by the pilot under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91. The private pilot, who was the sole person on board, was fatally injured. Visual flight rules (VFR) meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed. The personal flight departed South Valley Regional Airport (U42), Salt Lake City, Utah about 1605 for an unknown destination.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued an Alert Notification (ALNOT) for the missing airplane after a family member was concerned that the pilot had failed to return from the local flight. A search ensued, and the following morning, the county police department reported that the airplane wreckage was located in the Great Salt Lake.

The airplane was equipped with an Avidyne Entegra Multifunctional Display (MFD). Each display included a compact flash (CF) memory card that had a flight data log feature that stores periodic information such as engine parameters and flight track data. Specifically, the MFD records GPS position, engine performance data (such as RPM, engine temperatures, outside air temperature, fuel flow), and some electrical bus conditions. The pilot's display, CF card, was recovered and sent to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) Vehicle Recorder Laboratory for the download of the data. (A published report on the recorded flight data obtained from the accident airplane is available in the public docket).

The CF card contained partial data for the accident flight, however no altitude information was recorded. The data revealed that the airplane took off at 1605:30. There was a short interruption of GPS data just after takeoff and the first recorded position placed the airplane about 1.3 miles northwest of the departure end of runway 34, at U42, at 1608:30. The airplane's ground track continued northwest until it crossed the eastern shoreline of the Great Salt Lake at 1612:06. The airplane then turned more in a westerly direction over the southern portion of the lake. At 1613:42, the final minute of the data recording showed the airplane's engine speed and manifold pressure fall from 2400 to 2200 rpm and from 23 inches to 18 inches of mercury, until the data stopped recording at 1614:48.

Radar data revealed that the airplane turned left to a heading of approximately 210º magnetic and flew this heading for approximately 3.0 nautical miles at an average ground speed of 170 knots, during the final minute of flight. No airplane altitude information was available since the airplane's transponder was not turned on. While the destination of the flight was undetermined, the airplane's heading was consistent with a flight towards TVY.

PERSONNEL INFORMATION

The pilot, age 69, held a private pilot certificate with an airplane single engine land rating. He was issued a third-class airman medical certificate on May 3, 2013, with no limitations stated. The pilot stated during the examination that he had accumulated a total of 650 flight hours. Additionally, according to the pilot's logbooks, he had logged 65.1 hours in the last 90 days.

The pilot did not possess an airplane instrument rating. However, he started to work on obtaining an instrument rating in 2013, accumulating about 12.7 hours in flight training. No further instrument training was identified after June, 2013.

AIRCRAFT INFORMATION

The four-seat, low-wing, fixed-gear airplane, serial number (S/N) 0555, was manufactured in 2003. It was powered by a Continental-IO-550-N engine, serial number (S/N) 687430, rated at 310 horsepower. The airplane was also equipped with a Hartzell propeller. A review of the maintenance logbooks revealed that the annual inspection was completed on November 21, 2014, at an airframe total time of 1,145.1 hours. The airplane's weight and balance during the accident flight, was calculated to be within prescribed weight and center of gravity limitations.

METEOROLOGICAL INFORMATION

Weather conditions recorded at the Salt Lake City International Airport, located about 21 miles east of the accident site, revealed that at 1553, conditions were wind 280 degrees at 6 knots, visibility 3 statute miles, hazy, temperature 37 degrees Celsius, dew point 32 degrees Celsius and an altimeter setting of 30.12 inches of mercury.

For the area of the accident site, there were no forecast Center Warning Advisory (CWAs) or Significant Meteorological Information (SIGMETs). However, several reports advised of reduced visibility by the lake shore. An Airmen's Meteorological Information (AIRMET) issued at 1345, and valid during the accident time, indicated visibility below 3 statute miles (SM) and mist and fog. The local National Weather Service issued a short term forecast at 1050, that indicated dense fog near the accident location. "Dense fog is most pronounced near the shore of the Great Salt Lake from Western Salt Lake County through Grantsville." Further at 1526, a Dense Fog Advisory was issued for the area to include the shores of Great Salt Lake along the Wasatch Front, but not specifically the accident location. However, the report advised about the accident area. "The Salt Lake/Tooele Valleys … fog should remain more patchy...though still could be locally dense near the lake." At 1630, about 15 minutes after the accident time, a hazardous weather outlook was issued, that identified dense fog along the southern shores of Great Salt Lake. Reference the weather factual report in the public docket for additional information.

WRECKAGE AND IMPACT INFORMATION

Examination of the accident site by the NTSB, investigator-in- charge, revealed the airplane impacted the water about 7 miles west of the Great Lake State Parks Marina. Most major components of the airplane were contained within 15 feet of the main wreckage site. The main wreckage consisted of the wings, fuselage, and tail section floating in the water. The wreckage was anchored in place by control cables and airplane wiring attached to instrument panel and firewall, which were resting at the bottom of the lake. Miscellaneous wreckage debris was located on the lake surface, within about 1 mile of the main wreckage. The airplane was observed partially submerged in the water at a heading of about 055 degrees magnetic and situated in water about 8 feet deep. The airplane's fuselage was rolled on its right side.

The engine had separated from the main fuselage and was not located. All flight control surfaces were located, with the exception of the left aileron. The Cirrus Airframe Parachute System (CAPS) safety pin was observed in the activation handle holder and the CAPS was observed not activated.

The examination of the airplane at the accident site revealed no evidence of mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation.

COMMUNICATIONS

The pilot did not communicate with any FAA facility, therefore no Air Traffic Control communications recordings were available.

MEDICAL AND PATHOLOGICAL INFORMATION

The State of Utah Department of Health, Office of the Medical Examiner, conducted an autopsy on the pilot on January 11, 2015. The medical examiner determined that the cause of death was "drowning."

The FAA's Civil Aeromedical Institute (CAMI) in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, performed toxicology tests on the pilot. According to CAMI's report, cyanide, volatiles, and drugs were tested, and had positive findings for Bupropion, Dihydrocodeine, Hydromorphone, and Losartan.

Bupropion is a prescription antidepressant medication also used as an adjunct for smoking cessation. It is commonly marketed with the names Wellbutrin and Zyban. Hydrocodone, metabolites are Dihydrocodeine and Hydromorphone. Diphenhydramine is a sedating antihistamine used to treat allergy symptoms and as a sleep aid. It is available over the counter under the trade names Benadryl and Unisom. Diphenhydramine carries the following FDA warning: may impair mental and/or physical ability required for the performance of potentially hazardous tasks (e.g., driving, operating heavy machinery). Hydrocodone is a prescription opioid analgesic and a Schedule II controlled substance. It is most commonly marketed in combination with acetaminophen with the names Lortab and Vicodin. Losartan is a prescription medication for hypertension, commonly marketed with the name Cozaar.

The positive findings were reviewed by the NTSB's Chief Medical Officer. Reference the Medical Factual Report in the public docket for additional information.

TESTS AND RESEARCH

Further examination of the airframe revealed no evidence of mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. See the examination report in the public docket for additional information.

The airplane's Pilot's Operating Handbook states, to remove the CAPS safety pin during the pre-flight of the airplane.

According to the FAA Instrument Flying Handbook, page vii, "many accidents are the result of pilots who lack the necessary skills or equipment to fly in marginal visual meteorological conditions (VMC) or IMC and attempt flight with outside references." Further, on page 3-9 of the handbook, warns that "flying into fog can create an illusion of pitching up." The FAA Pilot's Flying Handbook, page 3-8, states that "if the natural horizon were to suddenly disappear, the untrained instrument pilot would be subject to vertigo, spatial disorientation, and inevitable control loss. Finally, the handbook on page 17-15, states "accident statistics show that the pilot who has not been trained in attitude instrument flying …lose control of the airplane in about 10 minutes once forced to rely solely on instrument reference."

NTSB Probable Cause

The non-instrument rated pilot’s decision to depart into low visibility conditions, which resulted in spatial disorientation and a loss of control. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s impaired performance due to his use of the sedating antihistamine, diphenhydramine.