NTSB: Flight instructor in fatal Mass. plane crash had 'do not fly' meds in system

"The twin-engine plane crashed in a remote, wooded area near Leyden on Jan. 14, 2024, killing Fly Lugu Flight School owner Fredrika Ballard, 53, student pilot Chad Davidson, 29, and flight instructor William Hampton, 68. Witnesses later told the National Transportation Safety Board that the plane's engine sounded "clunky" and that the aircraft "corkscrewed" or "spiraled" as it dove nose-down around 11:25 a.m., shortly after departure."

"The agency pointed out that the flight instructor's toxicological testing revealed several central nervous system depressants, including medications for anxiety and depression. Two of those drugs, the anti-anxiety medication alprazolam (sold under the brand name Xanax) and the tricyclic antidepressant amitriptyline, are on the FAA's "do not fly" list."

"According to the NTSB, ingesting multiple CNS depressants increases the risk of adverse effects, which might include impaired concentration, slowed reflexes, and increased sedation. "The adverse effects of [Hampton's] substance use, the associated underlying condition, or both likely diminished his capacity to act in a timely and appropriate manner," the NTSB concluded."

A twin-engine aircraft crashed near Leyden, Massachusetts on January 14, 2024, killing all three people aboard: flight school owner Fredrika Ballard, student pilot Chad Davidson, and flight instructor William Hampton. Witnesses reported the engine sounded abnormal and the plane spiraled downward shortly after takeoff. The NTSB determined the probable cause was Hampton's failure to maintain airplane control during a stall. Toxicological testing revealed Hampton had multiple central nervous system depressants in his system, including alprazolam and amitriptyline—both on the FAA's prohibited medication list. Additional substances found included zolpidem and citalopram. The combination of these medications likely impaired his concentration, reflexes, and alertness, diminishing his capacity to respond appropriately to the emergency.

Read at Boston.com