Pilot who Crashed in Idaho Denies he Flew Medicated

SANDPOINT, Idaho (AP) — A Utah pilot who crashed a plane at the Sandpoint airport has denied charges he was flying under the influence of prescription medication.

The Bonner County Daily Bee reports the attorney for 55-year-old Donald Moss Muirhead of Orem, Utah, filed a written plea of not guilty in Bonner County Magistrate Court. Muirhead was charged after the Piper Aerostar he was flying went off the end of the runway and crashed on Sept. 23. Muirhead and his two passengers weren't injured.

Sandpoint Police said Muirhead reported the plane's brakes weren't working, but the passengers told investigators Muirhead was flying too fast and touched down too far down the runway. A sheriff's deputy said Muirhead appeared lethargic and spoke slowly and he determined Muirhead was under the influence of intoxicating substances. A breath test showed he had not been drinking.