Posted on 12/09/2016 11:09:23 AM PST by BenLurkin
Nichols suffered multiple medical problems including type II diabetes, depression and chronic pain from fibromyalgia. Some of those conditions should have prohibited him from operating an aircraft.
As part of his treatment, he was taking 13 prescription medicines, many of which are also prohibited for pilots at the controls. A toxicology test performed on his body found seven different drugs in his blood and urine that were prohibited by the FAA, including oxycodone and the sedative diazepam, also known as Valium. Such drugs can impair brain function and motor controls, according to the NTSB documents.
He had also been convicted of Driving While under the Influence five times and had been found guilty on three different drug charges. He was also jailed twice - once in 2000 and again in April 2010.
...
The new details were revealed as National Transportation Safety Board officials are holding an investigative hearing in Washington D.C. on Friday.
The hearing got underway at 8am, and is expected to last for about six hours.
Officials quizzed witnesses who saw the crash - which was the deadliest single aviation accident in the U.S. since 2009.
It comes after it was revealed earlier this year Nichols was able to exploit a loophole to continue flying the balloon - and that he would not have been allowed to pilot a plane given his rap sheet.
(Excerpt) Read more at dailymail.co.uk ...
See my post #38.
Also see http://www.harveywatt.com/.
You might want to give those folks a call; or AOPA.
and the holding hands part. :)
:)
Actually, it is a fivefer:
1. hot air balloon flight
2. holding hands
3. certificate
4. champagne
5. hot air balloon poetry
What’s not to like?
Yes, that would be so!
That is clever, and cute!
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