FTW91FA144

Factual narrative

THE AIRPLANE CRASHED IN A SHALLOW UNCONTROLLED ATTITUDE ABOUT 3.5 MILES FROM ITS INTENDED DESTINATION WHILE HEADING IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION, DESPITE HAVING RECEIVED VECTORS THROUGH AN ARSA AND A LANDING ADVISORY FROM THE UNICOM. REVIEW OF THE ATC TAPES FROM THE DEPARTURE AND ARRIVAL SEGMENTS REVEALED THAT THE PILOT WAS IN EXTREME PHYSICAL DISTRESS UPON ARRIVAL. ANALYSIS OF THE TAPES AND THE PILOT'S MEDICAL HISTORY BY A PANEL OF FLIGHT SURGEONS INDICATED THAT THE PILOT WAS INCAPACITATED SHORTLY BEFORE IMPACT, PROBABLY DUE TO A MAJOR MEDICAL IMPAIRMENT. THE AUTOPSY REVEALED SEVERAL ARTIFACTS INDICATIVE OF SEVERAL YEARS OF HYPERTENSION AND ANKYLOSING SPONDYLITIS. HE WAS TAKING MEDICATION FOR THE CONDITIONS, HOWEVER, THE MEDICATIONS, TAKEN IN PARALLEL, COUNTERACTED THE ANTIHYPERTENSIVE MEDICINE'S EFFECT. IN ADDITION, HIS TOXICOLOGY SAMPLES REVEALED TWO PAIN MEDICATIONS, NORMALLY PRESCRIBED TO ALLEVIATE THE SIDE EFFECTS OF THE PRESCRIPTIONS BEING TAKEN FOR THE MEDICAL CONDITIONS, IN QUANTITIES ABOVE THE NORMAL THERAPEUTIC LEVELS. ONE OF THE Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12