N84385

On June 23, 2023, about 0404 mountain daylight time, a Cessna 172K, N84385, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Marana, Arizona. The pilot was not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight.

According to the pilot, he planned the flight from Inyokern, California (IYK), to Ryan Field Airport (RYN), Tucson, Arizona. He estimated that he would have “a little more than an hour of fuel remaining” at the end of the flight. He also planned to use Ak-Chin Regional Airport (A39) Maricopa, Arizona, as a possible fuel stop. He found the fuel gauges were unreliable, so he checked the fuel quantity with a dip stick. He reported that he departed IYK with 38 gallons of fuel on board. ADS-B data revealed the airplane departed IYK around 0018. Fuel receipts provided by the IYK airport manager revealed that the airplane was serviced with 31.3 gallons of 100 low lead fuel before departure. ADS-B data revealed the flight consisted almost entirely of low altitude maneuvering flight through hilly terrain, contrary to a direct flight from IYK to RYN. The proposed flight route and the actual flight route are shown in figure 1.

Figure 1. Google Earth image showing the flight path taken by the pilot in red and a direct track from IYK to RYN in blue.

While enroute, the pilot deviated from a direct line to his destination and arrived at A39 about 0339. Upon arrival, he reported that he could not activate the pilot-controlled lights, so he proceeded to Marana Regional Airport (AVQ), Marana, Arizona, but changed that plan when he then saw the fuel quantity gauges “dropped all the way to basically nothing.” He then elected to fly to Pinal Airpark (MZJ), Marana, Arizona, which was closer than AVQ. According to the pilot, when he was about five miles away from MZJ, the engine lost all power. The last automatic dependent surveillance – broadcast (ADS-B) point captured the airplane about 0404 about 5 miles west of MZJ. The pilot performed a forced landing and upon touchdown the airplane impacted vegetation and nosed over. The pilot exited the airplane unassisted.

The airplane came to rest inverted in a field covered in large bushes about ten feet in height and sustained substantial damage to the wing struts and fuselage. The airplane was recovered to a secure hangar for further examination.

The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation; however, he also reported that he suspected the airplane may have developed a fuel leak. The owner of the airplane stated that he rented the airplane to the pilot and did not consider the fuel quantity gauges to be grossly unreliable and that no one who had rented the airplane had complained of the fuel gauges being unreliable. The airplane was examined by a representative of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The FAA representative reported that his postaccident examination revealed no evidence of a fuel leak. After the FAA’s examination, the owner dismantled the airplane and found no evidence of a fuel leak.

The cruise and range performance chart for the 1969 Cessna Model 172 provided data for mission planning, as shown in figure 2.

Figure 2. Cruise and Range chart.

While at the scene of the accident, a sealed package that appeared to contain tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) edibles was located in the pilot’s belongings; the pilot indicated to law enforcement that the package belonged to him. At the request of the NTSB duty officer, a deputy administered a field sobriety test. No determination of impairment was documented at that time. Subsequently, the pilot consented to a blood draw. Toxicological testing of the pilot’s blood by the Arizona Department of Public Safety, Southern Regional Crime Laboratory, detected carboxy-THC, benzoylecgonine, amphetamine, and methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA).

Carboxy-THC is a non-psychoactive metabolite of THC (which was not detected in this case). THC is the primary psychoactive chemical in cannabis, including marijuana, hashish, and cannabis edibles. THC may be inhaled or ingested recreationally by users seeking mind-altering effects. It may also be used medicinally, such as to treat illness-associated nausea and appetite loss. Psychoactive effects of THC vary depending on the user, dose, and route of administration, and may impair motor coordination, reaction time, decision making, problem solving, and vigilance. Carboxy-THC may be detected in blood for a prolonged time (days or weeks) after last cannabis use – well beyond the typical duration of acute psychoactive cannabis effects.

Benzoylecgonine is a metabolite of cocaine (which was not detected in this case). The elimination half-life of benzoylecgonine is roughly 6 hours. Cocaine is a stimulant drug that is commonly used illicitly by recreational users. Cocaine users may seek euphoric effects, appetite suppressant effects, and feelings of increased alertness, strength, and decisiveness. Impairing effects that occur early after recreational cocaine use may include dizziness, restlessness, poor impulse control, and increased risk taking. Attention, perception, coordination, decision making, and task execution may be impaired by effects of cocaine and cocaine withdrawal. For multiple reasons (including issues related to cocaine stability in stored blood specimens), the concentration of cocaine in a person’s blood does not reliably predict degree of impairment, which can occur even in the absence of detectable cocaine. Cocaine is a federal Schedule II controlled substance (with limited medical use in healthcare settings as a topical anesthetic and vasoconstrictor in ear, nose, and throat procedures).

Amphetamine is a central nervous system (CNS) stimulant drug. It also is a metabolite of the similar drug methamphetamine (which was not detected in this case). Both methamphetamine and amphetamine are available as federal Schedule II controlled substance prescription medications used to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, narcolepsy, and occasionally obesity. As medicines, the drugs typically carry warnings that they may impair the ability to engage in potentially hazardous activities. The FAA considers methamphetamine and amphetamine to be “Do Not Issue/Do Not Fly” medications. In addition to being used medicinally, methamphetamine and amphetamine may be produced illicitly and abused recreationally. At low doses used as part of appropriate medical treatment, methamphetamine and amphetamine may improve reaction time, cognitive function, and fatigue, but may cause people to make higher-risk choices. At higher doses, the drugs may have a variety of impairing effects on psychomotor function, cognition, and perception. Impairment related to methamphetamine or amphetamine use can result from drug or withdrawal effects, with features of CNS stimulation or CNS depression. A measured drug level does not indicate whether a person is experiencing early- or late-phase effects. The elimination half-life of amphetamine is roughly 7 to 34 hours.

MDMA, commonly known as ecstasy, is a federal Schedule I controlled substance with no currently approved medical use in the United States. MDMA has psychedelic and CNS stimulant properties and is produced illicitly for recreational use. MDMA use may cause a variety of serious adverse cognitive and psychomotor effects, including increased impulsivity, diminished attention and cognition, and impaired perception and motor function. MDMA blood levels do not reliably predict effects. The elimination half-life of MDMA is roughly 7 hours, although non-linear elimination may occur.