Event NYC05LA110

Factual narrative

On June 30, 2005, about 1640 eastern daylight time, a Cirrus Design Corp. SR-22, N3452L, was substantially damaged during a forced landing, after the pilot became incapacitated during cruise flight near Haverstraw, New York. The certificated private pilot sustained serious injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and an instrument flight rules flight plan had been filed for the flight that departed the Lincoln Park Airport (N07), Lincoln Park, New Jersey, destined for the Westchester County Airport (HPN), White Plains, New York. The personal flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. The pilot reported he was in cruise flight at 3,000 feet, when he suffered a seizure and lost consciousness. When the pilot awakened, the airplane was in a high speed descent. In addition, the pilot felt disoriented, and numbness in his right leg. The airplane was equipped with a Cirrus Airplane Parachute System (CAPS). The pilot recovered from the descent at an altitude of about 1,700 feet; and elected to deploy the CAPS system. The pilot did not recall the airplane's airspeed at the time of the CAPS deployment. The airplane descended via the parachute, and impacted the Hudson River, near Bowline Point Park, about 15 miles northwest of HPN. According to radar data, the airplane's last radar target was observed at 1640:25, at an altitude of 1,600 feet, a heading of 091 degrees, and a ground speed of 195 knots. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the underside of the composite fuselage. The pilot sustained a fractured vertebra and was able to egress from the airplane before it sank to a depth of about 30 feet. The pilot stated he did not experience any mechanical problems with the airplane. Subsequent medical examinations on the pilot revealed the presence of a brain tumor. The pilot's most recent Federal Aviation Administration third class medical certificate was issued on August 11, 2004, with the only limitation that the pilot wear glasses or contact lenses. According to the pilot, the airplane was in cruise flight at 3,000 feet, when the pilot suffered a seizure and lost consciousness. When the pilot awakened, the airplane was in a high speed descent. In addition, the pilot felt disoriented, and numbness in his right leg. The airplane was equipped with a Cirrus Airplane Parachute System (CAPS). The pilot recovered from the descent at an altitude of about 1,700 feet; and elected to deploy the CAPS system. The airplane descended via the parachute, and impacted in a river. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the underside of the composite fuselage. The pilot sustained a fractured vertebra and was able to egress from the airplane before it sank. Subsequent medical examinations on the pilot revealed the presence of a brain tumor. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12