The pilot’s friend reported that he planned to fly his recently purchased twin-engine Aerostar 601P over his friend’s home near Aurora, Colo., to show it to him and another friend.
The pilot’s friends and several other witnesses reported observing the pilot performing low-level, high-speed aerobatic maneuvers before the plane collided with trees and then terrain. The pilot died in the crash.
A 1.75-liter bottle of whiskey was found in the airplane wreckage.
A review of the pilot’s medical records revealed that he had a history of alcohol dependence but had reportedly been sober for almost four years.
Toxicological testing revealed that the pilot had a blood alcohol content of 0.252 milligrams of alcohol per deciliter of blood, which was over six times the limit (0.040) allowed for pilots operating an aircraft.
The NTSB determined the probable cause as the pilot’s operation of the airplane while intoxicated, which resulted in a loss of airplane control.
NTSB Identification: CEN14FA163
This March 2014 accident report is provided by the National Transportation Safety Board. Published as an educational tool, it is intended to help pilots learn from the misfortunes of others.
FUI instead of DUI
for the family and friends sake, a more subtle choice of words may have been used, DRUNK, NOT GOOD CHOICE when describing a person
Maybe inebriated?????
Alcohol is a drug worse than some of the others that are considered illegal. I find it ironic that the limit for pilots is .04 while the limit for CDL drivers is .02 in Louisiana and that may be a nationwide limit. The American co-pilot who was arrested over the weekend was more than likely suffering from alcoholism and more than likely should have sought treatment prior to this incident, however, alcoholics really don’t think they have a problem with alcohol, kind of like smokers don’t think they are addicted to nicotene. I hope, for his sake(the American pilot) that he seeks treatment for his deadly disease.
The limit IS NOT THE PROBLEM!
I know that.
Thank goodness he didn’t kill anyone else, alcohol is just another drug.