Pilot Incapacitation Presumed

The NTSB has released its final report on a 06 May 2022 accident in which a Cirrus SR22, registration N24LA, was substantially damaged and its 67-year-old Private Pilot (and sole occupant) suffered fatal injuries during an IFR flight from South Carolina’s Lexington County Airport (SC99) to the Palmetto State’s Barnwell Regional Airport (BNL).

The accident-aircraft was operated as a personal flight under Part 91 of the Federal Aviation Regulations.

The NTSB set forth:

“The pilot was issued instrument approach instructions from air traffic control (ATC) and instructed to report over a waypoint. The pilot did not report over the waypoint and did not respond to any subsequent ATC communications.

“At the request of ATC, pilots of another airplane tried to get the accident pilot’s attention but were unsuccessful. They continued alongside and watched as the airplane descended into the ocean.

“The pilot had a history of heart palpitations and had a loop recorder heart monitor implanted in his left upper chest. The download of the device revealed a period of tachycardia during the time the pilot was not responding to ATC. It is likely that this cardiac event caused the pilot to be incapacitated.

“Examination revealed there were no pre-impact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation.”

The NTSB determined the accident was likely caused by loss of aircraft control secondary to pilot incapacitation resultant of cardiac anomaly. In the absence of a functioning pilot, the accident-aircraft overflew its intended destination and subsequently descended into the Atlantic Ocean.

Parties interested in learning more about the described occurrence should reference NTSB Accident Number ERA22LA220.

FMI: www.ntsb.gov