Mon, Mar 27, 2006
NTSB Probable Cause Report Pending
A coroner's report indicates the
pilot of a Cessna T210L that went down last year near Fresno, CA
had a significant amount of marijuana in his system at the time of
the accident.
All three people aboard the Centurion (file photo of type, above
right) were killed when the plane encountered bad weather, broke up
in flight and impacted the ground over Tranquility, CA on April 7,
2005. Karl Esposti, a local auto dealer, was piloting the aircraft;
his passengers were Tom Hobart and Kieran K.C. Burke, both
prominent individuals in the local vineyard industry. The three
were on their way to Scottsdale, AZ when the plane went down.
Toxicology reports cited by the Associated Press show Esposti
had 293 nanograms per milliliter of marijuana metabolites in his
system, detected through a urine test. Pilots found to have more
than 15 nanograms/ml in their system are subject to license
suspension or revocation, according to FAA spokesman Allen
Kenitzer.
It's not known when Esposti, who had no FAA violations on his
record, may have last taken marijuana, as it stays in the body for
long periods of time. It is also unclear whether he was impaired at
the time of the accident.
One expert said the level of marijuana found in Esposti's body
indicates he was either a chronic user, or had smoke it within
hours of the accident flight.
"How do you attain that number in the urine? It's only through
active smoking on a daily basis," said forensic toxicologist Dr.
Ernest D. Lykissa.
The Probable Cause report is currently awaiting approval by the
NTSB's five-member board. Officials have not commented on whether
the investigative body believes Esposti's apparent marijuana use
was a factor in the accident.
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