By Associated Press - Wednesday, June 27, 2018

PHOENIX (AP) - The Maricopa County Medical Examiner’s Office says autopsy results show one of two pilots aboard a small plane that crashed near Phoenix two months ago, killing all six people aboard, had cocaine in his system.

A student pilot and a certified airline transport pilot both were seated in the front of the plane. But investigators haven’t disclosed who was flying the Piper PA-24 Comanche that was headed to Las Vegas or why it crashed.

The National Transportation Safety Board’s final report on the April 9 crash isn’t expected until next year.



The plane went down on a golf course and burst into flames less than a mile north of Scottsdale Airport.

A preliminary report by the NTSB days said surveillance video showed the plane struggled to gain altitude on departure.

Copyright © 2026 The Washington Times, LLC.

Please read our comment policy before commenting.