ISSN: 0022-1198
CODEN: JFSCA
Published Online: 5 May 2004
Page Count: 5

Distribution and Optical Purity of Methamphetamine Found in Toxic Concentration in a Civil Aviation Accident Pilot Fatality
Chaturvedi, AK
Civil Aerospace Medical Institute, Federal Aviation Administration, OK

Canfield, DV
Civil Aerospace Medical Institute, Federal Aviation Administration, OK

Soper, JW
Civil Aerospace Medical Institute, Federal Aviation Administration, OK

Cardona, PS
Civil Aerospace Medical Institute, Federal Aviation Administration, OK

(Received 10 December 2003; accepted 13 March 2004)

Abstract

Toxicological evaluation of postmortem samples collected from a pilot involved in a unique fatal civil aircraft accident is described in this paper. A one-occupant airplane was substantially damaged upon colliding with terrain in poor visibility. Remains of the pilot were found outside the aircraft. Pathological examination revealed multiple blunt force injuries and vascular congestion. The fluorescence polarization immunoassay disclosed 8.0 µg/mL amphetamines in urine. Gas chromatographic/mass spectrometric analyses determined the presence of methamphetamine (1.13 µg/mLin blood and 59.2 µg/mL in urine) and amphetamine (0.022 µg/mLin blood and 1.50 µg/mL in urine). Methamphetamine was distributed throughout the body, including the brain. The amount of methamphetamine in gastric contents was 575-fold higher than that of amphetamine. The (+)- and (-)-forms of methamphetamine were present in equal proportions in gastric contents. The methamphetamine concentration found in blood was in the range sufficient to produce toxic effects, causing performance impairment.

Keywords:
forensic science, toxicology, methamphetamine, amphetamine, distribution, stereochemical analyses, fatal aviation accident investigation

Paper ID: JFS2003397
DOI: 10.1520/JFS2003397
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