Pilot, FAA Blamed In Fatal Oklahoma Plane Crash

NewsOn6.com

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The National Transportation Safety Administration blames an Oklahoma pilot's use of prescription medications and the FAA in its final report on a fatal airplane crash on the Will Rogers Turnpike in April 2008.

That crash killed the pilot, 72-year-old Clair Tromsness of Miami. 

The crash happened in Ottawa County on April 28, 2008.

The National Transportation Safety Board determined the probable cause of the accident was  the pilot's failure to maintain control of the airplane for undetermined reasons.

The NTSB also found other factors that contributed to the crash. 

They were Tromsness' extensive use of medications and/or his multiple medical conditions, and  the failure of the FAA to follow up on Tromsness' reported medication use. 

According to the report, "The pilot had a history of anxiety, depression, muscle pain, severe headaches, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), and memory loss, and had recently and regularly been using multiple prescription medications, including three medications for pain, two
antidepressants, and a sleep aid, each of which had the potential to adversely affect performance."

Read the NTSB report.  

The NTSB says the pilot held a private pilot certificate and his last FAA medical exam was November 27, 2007.

After retiring as an NEO A & M English professor in 1980, Tromsness founded the Miami Missionary Tent Company.

Related story: 12/19/2008 NTSB Issues Update In Fatal Plane Crash