ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 153599
Last updated: 25 December 2020
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| Date: | 27-FEB-2013 |
| Time: | 12:30 |
| Type: |  Cessna 150M |
| Owner/operator: | Private |
| Registration: | N9172U |
| C/n / msn: | 15078123 |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 1 / Occupants: 1 |
| Aircraft damage: | Substantial |
| Category: | Accident |
| Location: | 20 miles northeast of Deming, NM -
 United States of America
|
| Phase: | En route |
| Nature: | Private |
| Departure airport: | Belen, NM (E80) |
| El Paso, TX (KELP) | |
| Investigating agency: | NTSB |
During the flight, the pilot reported that he was “in trouble,” experiencing severe pain, and losing his eyesight. Radar contact was lost shortly afterward. The 78-year-old pilot had been issued a limited third class airman medical certificate due to elevated blood pressure. Toxicology testing revealed the presence of irbesartan, which is used mainly for treating hypertension. Although the cause of death was attributed to blunt force trauma, the heart exhibited significant preexisting coronary artery disease with up to 75 percent occlusion in a number of vessels. Wreckage distribution was consistent with an in flight breakup. Therefore, the evidence is consistent with the pilot most likely suffering an acute coronary syndrome, which incapacitated him and caused him to lose control of the airplane. During the loss of control, the airframe was overstressed, which caused it to break up in flight.
Probable Cause: The pilot's physical incapacitation, including loss of vision, which led to a loss of control and the subsequent in-flight breakup of the airplane.
Sources:
NTSB: https://www.ntsb.gov/_layouts/ntsb.aviation/brief.aspx?ev_id=20130227X70316&key=1
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 28-Feb-2013 07:47 | gerard57 | Added |
| 28-Feb-2013 08:15 | boxscar | Updated [Aircraft type, Registration] |
| 28-Feb-2013 12:31 | boxscar | Updated [Time, Departure airport] |
| 28-Feb-2013 13:08 | Geno | Updated [Cn, Source] |
| 28-Feb-2013 13:28 | RobertMB | Updated [Time, Aircraft type, Location, Source, Narrative] |
| 28-Feb-2013 16:55 | Geno | Updated [Source] |
| 21-Dec-2016 19:28 | ASN Update Bot | Updated [Time, Damage, Category, Investigating agency] |
| 28-Nov-2017 14:08 | ASN Update Bot | Updated [Operator, Other fatalities, Departure airport, Destination airport, Source, Narrative] |
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