# Incident 19960306006569I: Piper PA31310, Charlotte, NC, March 6, 1996

- Type: FAA incident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: March 6, 1996, 15:22 local time
- Place: Charlotte, NC
- Airport: Charlotte-Douglas International
- Phase of flight: Fcd/Prec Ldg From Cruise
- Operating rules: Air taxi and commuter (Part 135)
- Operator: EVTA
- Location: 35.2304° N, 80.9091° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.2304&lon=-80.9091&mi=10
- Aircraft: N7451L, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7451L-2008-05-20) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-31-310 (registry code 7103102, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-31-310) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming 0-540 series (registry code 41532, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-540-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA31310
- Reported engine: LYC TIO540A2C
- People aboard: 5
- Fatal injuries: 1
- Pilot flight hours: 10,000 total, 2,500 in this make and model, 121 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB MIA96IA094](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA96IA094) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19960306006569I

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

NARRATIVE: WHILE ON AN ILS APPROACH TO RUNWAY 18R AT THE CHARLOTTE/DOUGLAS INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, THE PILOT OF A PIPER PA-31 NAVAJO, OPERATING ON A FAR PART 135 PASSENGER-CARRYING FLIGHT, DECLARED A MISSED APPROACH. AFTER EXECUTING THE INITIAL MISSED APPROACH INSTRUCTIONS FROM CHARLOTTE AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL, THE PILOT ENGAGED THE AUTO PILOT. A PILOT-RATED PASSENGER SEATED IN THE RIGHT FRONT SEAT REALIZED THAT THE PILOT WAS NOT RESPONDING TO RADIO CALLS FROM ATC. THE PASSENGER THEN NOTICED THAT THE PILOT LOOKED ASHEN AND APPEARED TO BE CONVULSING. AFTER REQUESTING ASSISTANCE FROM ANOTHER PASSENGER TO HOLD THE PILOT OUT OF THE WAY OF THE YOKE, THE PILOT-RATED PASSENGER ASSUMED CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT. ALTHOUGH HE WAS UNABLE TO TURN OFF THE AUTO PILOT, THE PASSENGER MANUALLY OVERPOWERED IT AND CONTINUED TO FLY THE AIRCRAFT BACK AROUND FOR A LANDING. AT APPROXIMATELY 400 FEET AGL, THE ELBOW OF THE PASSENGER HOLDING THE INCAPACITATED PILOT APPARENTLY HIT THE MIXTURE CONTROLS CAUSING BOTH ENGINES TO QUIT. THE AIRCRAFT GLIDED TO A LANDING ON RUNWAY 36L. THE PILOT-RATED PASSENGER THEN ATTEMPTED TO STEER THE AIRCRAFT ON THE GROUND USING THE RUDDERS, BUT FOUND THEM INEFFECTIVE. THE AIRCRAFT VEERED OFF THE LEFT SIDE OF THE RUNWAY INTO THE GRASS AND CAME TO A STOP. THERE WAS NO DAMAGE TO THE AIRCRAFT AND NONE OF THE FOUR PASSENGERS ON BOARD WERE INJURED. THE PILOT DID NOT RESPOND TO ATTEMPTS BY EMS PERSONNEL TO REVIVE HIM AT THE SCENE.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB MIA96IA094](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA96IA094), Mar 6, 1996: Piper PA-31-310 (N7451L), Charlotte, NC, incident, no damage, 1 fatal. Probable cause: fatal incapacitation of the pilot due to a heart attack.

## Other reports on N7451L (1)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Accident 19780208003089A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19780208003089A), Feb 8, 1978: Piper PA31T1 (N7451L), Bluffton, OH, Substantial damage. Apt unattended,localized fog not reported.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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