A Pilot Asks for Tragedy

A pilot with a shocking disregard for personal safety comes to his inevitable demise.

Peter Garrison

Tuesday, June 18, 2019 at 12:31 AM ET

Verified

Piper PA-32 Turbo Saratoga Courtesy Piper

Key Takeaways:

A non-instrument-rated pilot fatally crashed after attempting to descend through an overcast layer in IMC despite air traffic control warnings and admitting he was unqualified for such conditions.
Toxicology reports revealed the pilot had cocaine and an alcohol byproduct in his system at the time of the accident.
The investigation uncovered the pilot's extensive history of aviation misconduct, including falsifying his experience and certificates, and having a student certificate revoked due to a prior alcohol-related flying infraction.
The NTSB cited the pilot's impairment due to cocaine and his extreme overconfidence and poor judgment as primary factors in the fatal crash.

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The Piper Turbo Saratoga departed Dallas Addison Airport (ADS) a few minutes after noon on an unseasonably warm December day. The pilot did not file a flight plan, and his destination is unknown. At 1327, the pilot radioed Kansas City Center for flight following, reporting his altitude as 11,500 feet. At 1400, the pilot reported that he was descending to 3,500 feet.

The controller asked the pilot whether he was above an overcast and needed a clearance to descend through it. The pilot replied, “No, we’re on top of the overcast. I think we can get down through it, get on down where we need to be.”