20090412009189I

Incident · No damage

FAA incident report · Beech 200BEECH · Fort Myers, FL · April 12, 2009

Date: April 12, 2009 · 14:32 local
Place: Fort Myers, FL
Airport: Southwest Florida International
Phase of flight: Climb
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: No damage
Aircraft: N559DW
NTSB investigation: NTSBERA09IA240
Reported as: Beech 200BEECH
People aboard: 5
Fatal injuries: 1
Other injuries: 0
Pilot’s flight hours: 7,275 total0 in this make and model0 in the last 90 days

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry 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.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

(-23) N559DW, a twin engine Beech 200 departed marco island, Florida on a day VFR cft part 91 flight with a single pilot and four passengers on board. During climbout and shortly after engaging the autopilot, the pilot became incapacitated and subsequently died. A passenger, who was the owner of the aircraft, and also who holds a single engine private pilots license was occupying the right seat. Receiveing some guidance from air traffic control, the passenger was able to take control of the aircraft, secure the incapacitated pilot to his seat, and eventually safely land the aircraft. Medical personnel pronounced the pilot dead at the aircraft.

As the FAA filed it

(-23) N559DW, A TWIN ENGINE BEECH 200 DEPARTED MARCO ISLAND, FLORIDA ON A DAY VFR CFT PART 91 FLIGHT WITH A SINGLE PILOT AND FOUR PASSENGERS ON BOARD. DURING CLIMBOUT AND SHORTLY AFTER ENGAGING THE AUTOPILOT, THE PILOT BECAME INCAPACITATED AND SUBSEQUENTLY DIED. A PASSENGER, WHO WAS THE OWNER OF THE AIRCRAFT, AND ALSO WHO HOLDS A SINGLE ENGINE PRIVATE PILOTS LICENSE WAS OCCUPYING THE RIGHT SEAT. RECEIVEING SOME GUIDANCE FROM AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL, THE PASSENGER WAS ABLE TO TAKE CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT, SECURE THE INCAPACITATED PILOT TO HIS SEAT, AND EVENTUALLY SAFELY LAND THE AIRCRAFT. MEDICAL PERSONNEL PRONOUNCED THE PILOT DEAD AT THE AIRCRAFT.

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.

NTSB ERA09IA240Incident · 1 fatalIncident investigationFinal reportFort Myers, FLThe pilot’s abnormal heart rhythm resulting in incapacitation.Apr 12, 2009 · No damage