Drunk and stoned pilot...kills 5 + 1

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http://straitstimes.asia1.com.sg/world/story/0,4386,240955,00.html

Aussie pilot in plane crash 'was on drugs'
CANBERRA - The pilot of a plane which crashed on a tropical Australian resort island, killing himself and five tourists, had consumed alcohol and drugs before flying, an investigation found yesterday.

Mr Andrew Morris, 27, had alcohol, cannabis and painkillers in his system, the report by the Australian Transport Safety Bureau said. It said the alcohol and cannabis may have contributed to the crash.

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On Sept 26, 2002, the Piper Cherokee 6-300 aircraft which Mr Morris piloted crashed shortly after taking off from Hamilton Island, 600km north of Brisbane.

The plane burst into flames in a quarry near the luxury island's runway, killing Mr Morris, a New Zealand family of four, and an American on his honeymoon, Mr Christopher Le Gallo, 33, from Virginia.

The report could not determine conclusively whether the crash was due to engine trouble or pilot error. The plane's engine began operating abnormally soon after takeoff and moments later stalled. -- AP

 

[Kingairrick]

Mr Andrew Morris, 27, had alcohol, cannabis and painkillers in his system, the report by the Australian Transport Safety Bureau said. It said the alcohol and cannabis may have contributed to the crash.

I guess we should just stick to painkillers then...

 

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Call for breath-testing after plane crash
Chris Jones, national political reporter
March 19, 2004

AUSTRALIAN pilots might soon be subjected to random breath tests after alcohol was found to have contributed to a plane crash in the Whitsundays which claimed six lives.



Transport Minister John Anderson yesterday ordered his department to act on an Australian Transport Safety Bureau recommendation that a review be established into the possible introduction of a drug and alcohol testing regime for pilots.

Current aviation regulations require pilots to determine their own fitness to fly, and demand only that they leave eight hours between consuming alcohol and taking to the air – the so-called "bottle-to-throttle" rule.

But the ATSB has called for the imposition of tougher rules after its investigators found they could not rule out alcohol impairment, recent cannabis use and fatigue as possible contributory factors to a tragic plane crash at Hamilton Island 18 months ago.