Pilot Debrief

LOCKWOOD AIR CAM near Ranchitos Las Lomas, TX — 2024-01-29

Final reportCEN24FA101
Sign in to save
Date
2024-01-29
Location
Ranchitos Las Lomas, TX, USA
Aircraft
LOCKWOOD AIR CAM
Registration
N315GW
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
Fatal
Fatalities
2

Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from a meteorological evaluation tower.

NTSB narrative

The pilot was flying low over his ranch when the airplane impacted a 197-ft marked meteorological evaluation tower (MET) about 192 ft above ground level (agl). The outboard section of the left wing was separated from the airplane, with witness marks showing impact on both the tower mast and top guy wire. The airplane impacted terrain in an inverted attitude about 238 ft from the tower. A review of the airplane instruments revealed that the altimeter setting was 30.36 inches of mercury (inHg). The nearest automated weather station reported an altimeter setting of 30.25 inHg about 25 minutes after the accident. The difference between the two settings would have placed the airplane 110 ft below the indicated altitude on the altimeter. The pilot had accumulated about 95 hours in the accident airplane since he completed building it in September 2023. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed no mechanical failures or malfunctions that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot’s postmortem toxicology testing detected one metabolite of delta-8-tetrahydrocannabinol (delta-8 THC); the non-psychoactive metabolite carboxy-delta-8-THC was present in cavity blood and liver specimens tested. Testing also detected gabapentin in the cavity blood and liver specimens, and alprazolam in the liver specimen. Gabapentin is used to treat nerve pain and certain types of seizures. It can cause sedation and dizziness and can impair coordination and performance of tasks such as driving and operating heavy machinery. Gabapentin typically carries a warning that the drug may interact with alcohol or other sedating medications to worsen sleepiness and dizziness. Alprazolam, sometimes marketed as Xanax, is a high-potency benzodiazepine drug available as a prescription oral medication commonly used to treat anxiety and panic disorder. In addition to medicinal use, alprazolam commonly is misused. Alprazolam can cause sedation and psychomotor impairment, with adverse effects on tracking, attention, and reaction speed. Alprazolam typically carries a warning against engaging in hazardous occupations requiring mental alertness such as operating machinery or driving a motor vehicle. The FAA considers gabapentin and alprazolam to be “Do Not Issue/Do Not Fly” medications, and regular use of either drug for any reason is disqualifying for pilot medical certification. The pilot’s use of cannabis, alprazolam, and/or gabapentin may have affected his judgement. However, based solely on the postmortem toxicology testing results and the accident circumstances, the level of the pilot’s possible impairment, if any, could not be determined.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • Photos
  • 12 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents12

Related mishaps