Alfred “Skip” Nichols, the pilot of the deadliest hot air balloon crash in U.S. history, had multiple prohibited drugs in his system when his balloon crashed and burned near Lockhart, Texas earlier this year killing all 16 people onboard, according to documents released by federal investigators Friday.
Results of a toxicology exam taken after the tragedy and released by the National Transportation Safety Board this week revealed that Nichols, 49, had taken several medications prior to the crash that may have affected his ability to navigate the aircraft.
Nichols was chartering a sightseeing tour south of Austin on the morning of July 30 when the hot air balloon he was piloting burst into flames upon striking high-voltage power lines. Nichols and all 15 passengers were pronounced dead at the scene.
According to the toxicology results, Nichols had several medications in his system at the time of the accident that would have legally prevented him from obtaining the medical certificate that fixed-wing and helicopter pilots must receive from the Federal Aviation Administration prior to flying.
Hot air balloon pilots aren’t required to obtain a medical certificate from the FAA, however, spurring discussions during a NTSB hearing in Washington, D.C. on Friday over whether new regulations should imposed.
“Unfortunately, sometimes it takes blood to get change,” NTSB Board Member Robert Sumwalt said following Friday’s hearing, ABC News reported. “And we want to make sure there are changes made before there’s more bloodshed.”
The toxicology report prepared in anticipation of Friday’s hearing indicated Nichols tested positive for diazepam, oxycodone and methylphenidate, among other drugs, after the crash – three medications that would have prevented him from obtaining a medical certificate, ABC News reported.
Often prescribed under the names Valium and Oxycontin, respectively, diazepam and oxycodone would “inhibit decision-making, cause drowsiness and sedation and interfere if you will, with the ability to operate a motor vehicle or aircraft, in this case,” Dr. Philip Kemp, senior research toxicologist, testified Friday, according to KXAN-TV.
Tests also showed Nichols had cyclobenzaprine, a muscle relaxant, bupropion, an anti-depressant, and diphenhydramine, an active ingredient in Benadryl, in his system at the time of the accident.
“The ultimate goal of this investigation is to learn from this tragedy so that we can keep it from happening again,” testified Mr. Sumwalt, the board member.
The NTSB investigation is expected to finish its investigation into the balloon crash sometime in early 2017, safety board spokesman Eric Weiss told the Austin Statesman.
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