shueman
Libra
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Born To Drive...
   
Alta Loma CA
Posts: 17,228
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Posted: July 29 2006,6:29 am |
Post # 1 |
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NTSB Says Pilot Intoxicated In Fatal Crash
MOHAVE VALLEY, AZ - A preliminary report just released by the NTSB (National Transportation Safety Board) regarding Sunday's plane crash in Mohave Valley says the pilot and his two passengers were intoxicated at the time the plane took off - after the three had a number of drinks at the Red Dog Saloon in Needles. The bar was owned by the pilot, John Lee, who was killed in the accident, along with his friend, Duane Cranney. (the other passenger, Greg Swain suffered serious burns and was taken to a hospital in Las Vegas.)
The NTSB also says "a flight plan had not been filed." An eyewitness who is also a pilot, was inside a nearby hangar at the Eagle Airfield, witnessed the three men taxi and thought the pilot may be a student by the way he was operating the aircraft. He told investigators, "that the pilot appeared to be preoccupied, as the airplane made erratic s-turns up the taxiway. The airplane veered from side to side varying in power settings, as it would increase and then decrease in speed.
A Safety Board investigator interviewed a bartender who was employed at the Red Dog’s Saloon, an establishment recently purchased by the pilot. She stated that pilot and rear-seat passenger had celebrated their birthdays together the day prior to the accident, by having a party at the Red Dog’s Saloon. The night of the party it was decided that as a birthday present to the passenger, the pilot would take him for a flight to see the Colorado River the following day.
The bartender further reported that the day of the accident, the pilot arrived at the saloon about 10:30am. He appeared to be in a good mood and refreshed; there was no evidence that he was hung over. While he was at the bar, she served the pilot two shots and two mixed drinks, and he never appeared to be intoxicated; the rear-seat passenger had about five drinks and was showing the affects of alcohol consumption. The front-seat passenger arrived that the bar about 30 minutes before the three of them left for the flight; she served him one drink and one shot. They all left the bar together about 1400 to 1500 and were picked up by a designated driver. The pilot indicated that the flight would be about an hour long.
Finally, the report reveals that a paramedic "could smell alcohol on the breath of the patient," that being the front seat passenger, who was treated for second-degree burns and found outside of the plane when paramedics arrived.
The investigation is still ongoing by the NTSB and a further report is forthcoming.
Great...  Â Gotta watch out for drunk drivers, drunk boaters, and now, drunk pilots... 
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12-25-2025 Three Word Post.....The Next Generation.... (Rep.#20,039) from: BigDog
I'll be the survivor doesn't fly anymore!! 
sober is tough enough. Â 
 
