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Hot-air balloon pilot who crashed into power lines and killed all 15 passengers was high...
Dailymail.com ^ | 9 December 2016 | Liam Quinn For

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 ...


TOPICS: Outdoors
KEYWORDS: aviation; diazepam; hotairballoon; ntsb; valium
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To: SkyDancer

See my post #38.

Also see http://www.harveywatt.com/.

You might want to give those folks a call; or AOPA.


41 posted on 12/11/2016 7:42:04 PM PST by Taxman ((H. L. Mencken correctly observed: Government is actually the worst failure of civilized man.))
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To: Taxman
You almost have me convinced SG .... well, OK...but if I get a cheesy certificate...

and the holding hands part. :)

:)

42 posted on 12/11/2016 7:53:32 PM PST by Daffynition ( "The New PTSD: Post-Trump Stress Disorder")
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To: Daffynition

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?


43 posted on 12/11/2016 9:06:37 PM PST by Taxman ((H. L. Mencken correctly observed: Government is actually the worst failure of civilized man.))
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To: Taxman
Pentabulous!


44 posted on 12/11/2016 10:32:27 PM PST by Daffynition ( "The New PTSD: Post-Trump Stress Disorder")
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To: Daffynition

Yes, that would be so!


45 posted on 12/12/2016 4:15:24 PM PST by Taxman ((H. L. Mencken correctly observed: Government is actually the worst failure of civilized man.))
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To: Taxman

46 posted on 12/13/2016 1:24:14 AM PST by Daffynition ( "The New PTSD: Post-Trump Stress Disorder")
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To: Daffynition

That is clever, and cute!


47 posted on 12/13/2016 7:14:59 AM PST by Taxman ((H. L. Mencken correctly observed: Government is actually the worst failure of civilized man.))
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