Henderson W A/Johnson W L RV 6A N216LA

Summary

On 2 September 2015 at about 20:45 local time, a Henderson W A/Johnson W L RV 6A registered N216LA was involved in an accident near Bon Aqua, Tennessee, United States. One person was on board and one died. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

2 September 2015 at 20:45

Classification

Accident

Location

Bon Aqua, Tennessee, United States

Coordinates

35.9350, -87.2525

Aircraft

Henderson W A/Johnson W L RV 6A

Registration

N216LA

Category

Airplane

Year built

2005

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Shelbyville → Alabaster

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ERA15FA336

1 person died.

The pilot's incapacitation from complications of a recent heart attack, which resulted in a loss of control during cruise flight.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

During the cruise portion of a cross-country flight, about 20 minutes after takeoff, the commercial pilot stopped responding to air traffic controllers as the airplane reversed course. It then climbed from 6,500 ft to 9,000 ft mean sea level and completed two left circuits before descending rapidly into the ground. Examination of the wreckage did not reveal any preimpact mechanical malfunctions. The pilot's autopsy revealed that he had severe coronary artery disease, scarring from previous heart attacks, and evidence of ongoing or recent damage to two new areas of heart muscle, indicating recent heart attacks. All of these conditions put him at risk of experiencing acute heart failure or a disturbance of heart rhythm (arrhythmia). Both acute heart failure and arrhythmia can rapidly lead to decreased consciousness due to low blood pressure. It is likely that acute symptoms from complications of the pilot's ongoing heart attacks resulted in impairment /incapacitation of the pilot and led to his loss of airplane control.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.