Loss of Control in Flight · NTSB CEN15FA281
STUHLMILLER ROBERT EUROPA — Beloit, OH
| Date | June 26, 2015 |
| Location | Beloit, OH |
| Aircraft | STUHLMILLER ROBERT EUROPA (amateur-built) |
| Purpose of flight | Personal |
| Conditions | Day · Visual Meteorological Cond |
| Phase / occurrence | Uncontrolled descent Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) |
| Pilot age | 72 |
| Pilot total time | 1,820 hrs · Experienced |
| Time in type | Unknown |
| Fatalities | 1 |
Probable cause
NTSB findings
- Personnel issues-Physical-Impairment/incapacitation-Cardiovascular-Pilot - C
What happened
A witness reported seeing the pilot depart the airport in the experimental amateur-built airplane. Shortly thereafter, an individual checking on crops found the wreckage of the airplane in a soybean field about ½ mile from the airport. First responders noted the smell of fuel at the accident site. An examination of the airframe and engine did not reveal any pre-impact abnormalities. The engine examination found signatures consistent with rotation at the time of impact with terrain.
The pilot had previously been issued a special-issuance medical certificate; however, at the time of the accident, he was flying under the sport pilot rules for medical requirements. A review of the pilot's medical records and autopsy report revealed a history of coronary artery disease and old scarring of the heart muscle. These factors increased the risk of a cardiovascular event that could result in sudden impairment or incapacitation. The autopsy report noted that a contributing factor to the cause of death was coronary artery disease and chronic hypertension. Therefore, it is likely that pilot experienced in-flight incapacitation due to a cardiovascular event.