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BFO93LA032

1993-02-22 · QUINTON, Virginia, United States · Fatal · 1 aircraft · Status: Completed

Airport W96

Aircraft involved

Probable cause & findings

THE PILOT'S IMPAIRMENT DUE TO A NEUROLOGICAL INJURY AND DRUGS, AND HIS FAILURE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE DURING AN APPROACH TO LAND. A FACTOR RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE GUSTY WIND CONDITION.

Factual narrative

THE UNREGISTERED HOMEBUILT WAS OBSERVED TO TAKE OFF, REMAIN IN THE PATTERN, LAND BACK ON THE RUNWAY, THEN TAKE OFF AGAIN. AS IT TURNED ONTO THE FINAL APPROACH LEG, IT SUDDENLY NOSED DOWN AND STRUCK THE GROUND ABOUT 1/2 MI FROM THE RUNWAY. NO MECHANICAL MALFUNCTIONS WERE FOUND WITH THE ENGINE OR AIRFRAME. THE WINDS WERE REPORTED AS 18 KTS GUSTING TO 22. THE PILOT'S CERTIFICATES WERE PREVIOUSLY REVOKED BECAUSE OF 'SUSTAINED PERMANENT NEUROLOGICAL INJURY' FROM A PREVIOUS HOMEBUILT ACCIDENT. TOXICOLOGY TESTS OF THE PILOT'S LIVER TISSUE REVEALED 1.7 MG/KG OF IMIPRAMINE, 6.0 MG/KG OF DESIPRAMINE, AND O.2 MG/KG OF LIDOCAINE (PRESCRIPTION DRUGS). Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_1993_BFO93LA032.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.

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