N260RG

On June 17, 1995, at 1749 central daylight time (cdt), a Christen Pitts S-2B, N290RG, piloted by a commercial pilot, was destroyed during a collision with the ground and subsequent fire. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The personal 14 CFR Part 91 flight was not operating on a flight plan. The pilot and passenger received serious injuries. The flight departed Crystal Lake, Illinois, at 1730 cdt.

According to the pilot's statement on NTSB Form 6120.1/2, he lost consciousness about ten minutes after departing the airport following an aerobatic demonstration. He said he recalled colliding with the ground and trying to get free of the airplane. Witnesses observed the airplane bank left and right before it made a steep descent toward the ground.

N290RG's wreckage trail was on an approximate heading of 135 degrees magnetic. The airplane's main landing gear tire produced two imprints onto a newly seeded farm field. About 400 feet after the tire imprints the airplane came to rest and caught fire. Examination of the airframe revealed no pre-collision failures. Flight control system continuity was established from the cockpit to each control surface. Aileron control cables had been separated, the ends of these cables were broomed and strand ends exhibited necking. Fire damage to the engine was extensive. Mechanical continuity of its major components was established.

During an interview with an FAA Principal Operations Inspector (POI) the pilot stated he must have fallen asleep. The POI asked the pilot if he had consumed any alcoholic beverages during the day. The pilot said he had not. The pilot's wife was a passenger in the airplane. She said she was not aware of any problem with the pilot or airplane before the accident. The POI asked the passenger if the pilot had consumed any alcoholic beverages. She said she did not think he had consumed any before, or after, the air show. The passenger said the pilot had appeared totally exhausted after the air show.

Hospital records for the injured pilot showed that a chemistry- toxicological examination was performed. The results of the blood test revealed 284 MG/DL of alcohol. This sample was taken at 1833 cdt on June 17, 1995.

Blood and urine samples for the pilot were examined by the FAA's Civil Aero Medical Institute in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Their report showed the pilot had 288.000 (mg/dl) Ethanol detected in the blood and 280.000 (mg/dl) ethanol detected in the urine. Diazepam (0.100 ug/ml, ug/g) was detected in the blood and 0.114 (ug/ml, ug/g) of Nordiazepam was also detected in the blood. Both drugs were also detected in the urine sample.