A cocktail of prescription drugs was found in the body of the pilot of a King Air that crashed on April 4, 2003, at 9:35 a.m. in Leominster, Mass. The NTSB factual report, just released, revealed that post-mortem tests showed he had morphine, antidepressants desipramine and imipramine and anticonvulsant carbamazepine in his system. A combination of the drugs could cause drowsiness and lack of coordination.
The pilot, Robert Monaco, 49, had been diagnosed with viral meningitis in January 2002 after experiencing “incapacitating” shooting pain throughout his body, “explosive headaches, episodes of not knowing where he is, seizure and migraine.”
Yet on his last airman medical application in April 2002, a year before the crash, the pilot replied that he currently did not use any medication. He also replied “no” for item 18.l, “Neurological disorders: epilepsy, seizures, stroke, paralysis, etc.,” and “no” for item 19, “Visits to health professional within last three years.”
More In Accidents
