Mechanical & Engine Failure · NTSB CEN11FA467
RANS S-12 — Scott, AR
| Date | July 9, 2011 |
| Location | Scott, AR |
| Aircraft | RANS S-12 |
| Purpose of flight | Personal |
| Conditions | Day · Visual Meteorological Cond |
| Phase / occurrence | Emergency descent Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) |
| Pilot age | 44 |
| Pilot total time | Unknown |
| Time in type | Unknown |
| Fatalities | 1 |
Probable cause
NTSB findings
- Personnel issues-Physical-Impairment/incapacitation-Cardiovascular-Pilot - C
- Personnel issues-Task performance-Use of equip/info-Aircraft control-Pilot - C
- Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-(general)-(general)-Not attained/maintained - C
What happened
According to data from a GPS receiver on board the airplane, the airplane made several turns just before it descended and impacted terrain. Examination of the wreckage and an engine run found no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation. The airplane’s ballistic recovery system was found deployed; however, damage and deployment signatures were consistent with activation due to ground impact. An autopsy conducted on the pilot found a complete obstruction of the left main coronary artery. While it was not possible to determine if the pilot was experiencing a heart attack in flight, it is possible that the pilot experienced acute arrhythmia or acute myocardial ischemia (decrease in blood flow), which would have led to the pilot’s loss of airplane control.