UPDATE: NTSB report one crew member in deadly Howland plane crash

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Editor's Note: A previous version of this story identified Timothy Blake as a co-pilot, as he was described in the Coroner's Report. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has since clarified that Joseph Maxin was the only crew member listed on the flight.

Toxicology results from a plane crash that claimed the lives of six people in Howland Township in June reveal the presence of fentanyl and alcohol in a passenger's blood.

According to the coroner's report for Timothy Blake, a post-mortem drug screening revealed "acute mixed fentanyl and ethanol intoxication."

While the report lists the cause of death as "catastrophic blunt force thoracic trauma," it also lists that Blake had a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.063, which is lower than the legal limit, but that he had 78 ng/mL of fentanyl and 27 mL of norefentanyl in his system at the time.

While the coroner's report described Blake as the "co-pilot" for the plane, the NTSB report only listed one crew member among the deceased, Joseph Maxin, who did not have any illicit drugs or alcohol in his system at the time of the crash.

Fentanyl is a schedule II prescription opioid used for pain management and the induction of anesthesia.

However, the coroner's report also states, "it is unknown if [Blake] took any prescription medications." 

In addition to Blake and Maxin, the deadly crash claimed the lives of James Weller II, John Weller, Veronica Weller and Maria Weller. You can read much more about the crash and its victims in our related coverage below.

The cause of the crash is still under investigation. 

RELATED COVERAGE:

Six killed in Howland Township plane crash identified


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