Drug and Alcohol - Forensic Toxicology Annual Report 2016

Cliburn, Kacey; Craft, Kristi; Hunn, Heather; Thompson, Kristi; Ritter, Roxane; Saenz, Sunday; Barrett, Jenny; Angier, Mike; Caldwell, Doug; Griffin, Ashley; Hickerson, Jeff; Hileman, Christy; Lewis, Russell; Soper, John; Williamson, Kelly; Kemp, Philip · 2020 · ROSA P / United States. Department of Transportation. Federal Aviation Administration. Office of Aviation. Civil Aerospace Medical Institute

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Summary

This report presents the forensic toxicology findings for cases processed by the Federal Aviation Administration’s Civil Aerospace Medical Institute (CAMI) in 2016. The study aims to characterize accident victims, evaluate aviation safety trends, and assess drug and alcohol usage among pilots and other transportation operators. The data supports accident investigations by the FAA and National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) to identify impairments or medical conditions contributing to crashes. The Bioaeronautical Sciences Research Laboratory (BSRL) received 307 cases from aviation, highway, marine, and rail accidents. Of these, 286 cases involved aviation accidents, with 22 cases being nonfatal. Toxicological analysis was performed on 296 cases. The laboratory utilized standardized methods, including immunoassay screening followed by confirmation via gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC/MS) and liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS). Analyses included testing for ethanol, volatiles, carboxyhemoglobin, cyanide, glucose, and a broad spectrum of illicit, over-the-counter, and prescription drugs. Data were compared against a five-year period (2012–2016) to identify trends. Among the 277 cases analyzed for drugs, 155 were positive for at least one substance, while 122 were negative. Ethanol concentrations exceeding the regulatory limit of 40 mg/dL were found in seven cases. Carboxyhemoglobin levels indicating exposure to carbon monoxide (≥10%) were detected in 13 cases, all of which were subsequently tested for cyanide. Glucose-positive results were reported in 10 cases. The majority of aviation accident occupants were male pilots, with an average age of 53.4 years, which is significantly older than the general population of active airmen. Regarding medical certification, 92% of pilots involved in accidents requiring a valid certificate held a current one, while 38% of those not requiring a certificate held an out-of-date certificate. The findings provide critical data for assessing transportation safety and informing policy discussions on drug use in aviation. The high prevalence of drug positives and the demographic profile of accident victims highlight specific risk factors within the aviation community. By documenting these trends, the report aids the FAA and NTSB in developing accident prevention strategies and educating pilots about the dangers of substance use and medical non-compliance.

Key finding

56% of the 277 drug-analyzed cases received in 2016 tested positive for at least one drug.

Methodology

dataset

Sample size: 307

Provenance

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Summary generated by qwen3.6-27b-prismaquant on 2026-06-10; verification: verified.

Topics

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• illicit drugs