Pilot Debrief

PIPER PA 24-260 near Spring Branch, TX — 2015-05-16

Final reportCEN15FA232
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Date
2015-05-16
Location
Spring Branch, TX, USA
Airport
1T7
Aircraft
PIPER PA 24-260
Registration
N9032P
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
Fatal
Fatalities
4
Phase of flight
Takeoff roll

Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain control during takeoff due to his impairment from marijuana. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s impaired decision to fly after using a disqualifying drug.

Contributing factors

Contributing to the accident was the pilot's impaired decision to fly after using a disqualifying drug.

NTSB narrative

The private pilot was departing on a local flight with three passengers in the complex, high-performance airplane. Shortly after takeoff, the airplane descended and impacted terrain near a store parking lot. Postaccident examination of the airplane did not reveal any anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. Toxicological testing of the pilot revealed the presence of marijuana and its metabolite (THC and THC-COOH). THC is a psychoactive drug with potential effects such as decreased ability to concentrate and maintain attention, and impaired hand-eye coordination; these effects can present with blood levels of THC as low as 1 ng/ml. Due to postmortem redistribution, the exact level of THC and THC-COOH at the time of the accident could not be determined; however, the pilot's minimum THC level was likely about 5-11 ng/ml, and his THC-COOH level was likely about 3-4 ng/ml. His actual levels could have been higher at the time of the accident, and would likely have been higher during the time of preflight decision-making. The accident was consistent with a loss of control after takeoff due to the pilot's impairment by the effects of marijuana.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Loss of control
First missed decision gate
Pilot could have aborted takeoff due to strong wind conditions.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • Video
  • Photos
  • 17 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents17

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