Dittenber Thomas J AURIGA N55GM

Summary

On 13 June 2014 at about 04:05 local time, a Dittenber Thomas J AURIGA registered N55GM was involved in an accident near Echo Bay, Nevada, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

13 June 2014 at 04:05

Classification

Accident

Location

Echo Bay, Nevada, United States

Nearest airport

Echo Bay (0L9)

Coordinates

36.3122, -114.4575

Aircraft

Dittenber Thomas J AURIGA

Registration

N55GM

Category

Airplane

Year built

1999

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Minden → Echo Bay

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Night/Dark

NTSB number

WPR14FA243

2 people died.

The pilot's failure to maintain airplane control while maneuvering for landing to an unlit runway in dark night conditions.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

At the end of a personal cross-country flight, the private pilot was attempting to land at night on a dark unlit runway. A witness reported that the airplane made a low pass to the east of the airport and then reversed course to presumably land on runway 24. The witness lost site of the airplane and, shortly thereafter, observed a column of smoke.  The airplane impacted terrain 50 ft lower than the runway surface, 200 yards northeast of the runway threshold, in a steep nose-down attitude. The airplane was consumed by the postimpact fire. Postaccident examination of the wreckage revealed no evidence of a mechanical malfunction or failure that would have precluded normal operation. It is likely that, while maneuvering in the dark night conditions with no ground reference or runway lighting, the pilot failed to maintain airplane control.  Toxicological testing detected methamphetamine in the pilot's tissue specimens, and the level in his liver suggested high dose use, which can cause impairment. The tests also detected tramadol, which may be sedating and is associated with an increased risk of seizure, particularly in the first days and weeks after beginning treatment or with very high doses. However, without a blood level, it could not be determined whether or not the pilot's use of tramadol or methamphetamine contributed to the accident.    

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.