# NTSB ATL91FA008: Beech A36, N97PA, Georgetown, SC, October 25, 1990

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: October 25, 1990, 19:00 local (23:00 UTC)
- Place: Georgetown, SC
- Coordinates: 33.360137, -79.290473 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.3601&lon=-79.2905&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed, report December 14, 1992
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 8295
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL91FA008
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/8295/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL91FA008

## Probable cause

THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND'S LOSS OF CONSCIOUSNESS DURING FLIGHT. THE REASON FOR THE LOSS OF CONSCIOUSNESS COULD NOT BE DETERMINED.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Miscellaneous/other, descent - normal
  - incapacitation(loss of consciousness), pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, other

## Analysis

DURING DESCENT ON AN IFR FLIGHT, THE PILOT BECAME INCAPACTIATED. THE NON-RATED PASSENGER THEN MADE THE FOLLOWING TRANSMISSION: 'CAN ANYBODY HEAR ME?', FOLLOWED BY '... HE WENT TO SLEEP ON ME'. RADAR DATA INDICATES THAT N97PA THEN FLEW ERRATIC HEADINGS AND ALTITUDES UNTIL FINALLY TURNING TO A SOUTHEASTERLY HEADING, TOWARDS THE OCEAN. ATTEMPTS BY ATC TO DIRECT A TURN BACK TOWARDS LAND WERE TO NO AVAIL. RADAR CONTACT WAS LOST 4 MILES FROM THE COASTLINE OVER THE ATLANTIC OCEAN. THE COAST GUARD RECOVERED AN AIRPLANE SEAT AND TWO SECTIONS OF LANDING GEAR. POSITIVE IDENTIFICATION OF THE PILOT AND PASSENGER WAS NOT POSSIBLE. THE PILOT HAD RECEIVED HIS CLASS II MEDICAL THE DAY OF THE ACCIDENT. A SEARCH OF HIS MEDICAL RECORD REVEALED A SLIGHTLY ABNORMAL ECG IN 1988 (ON APPLICATION FOR CLASS I MEDICAL). ALL SUBSEQUENT APPLICATIONS FOR FAA MEDICAL CERTIFICATES WERE FOR CLASS II CERTIFICATES, WHICH DO NOT REQUIRE ECG TESTING.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N97PA](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N97PA-1992-09-08), registration cancelled 1992-09-08, S/N E2023 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BEECH A36
- Registry model: [Beech A36](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-a36) (registry code 1151604) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: E-2023
- Engines: CONTINENTAL IO-520-BB 285 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: Unknown
- Flight: Business, Part 91
- Operator: Air And Sea Sales Corporation
- Registered owner: Air And Sea Sales Corp., Inc
- Last inspection: Annual, February 7, 1990, 0 hours before
- Departed: GMU, GREENVILLE, SC
- Destination: GGE, GEORGETOWN, SC
- Flight plan: IFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 53; airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; flight hours: 11,650 total, 11,305 as pilot in command

## Weather

- Conditions: Day
- Wind: 310° at 13 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 1,400 ft overcast
- Temperature: -0 °F, dew point -0 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: MYR

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19901025047089A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19901025047089A), Oct 25, 1990: Beech A36, Georgetown, SC, Destroyed, 2 fatal. Lost radio contact on descent. Voice heard to say can anybody help me he went to sleep. Landing gear and seat found

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.

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