# NTSB CEN22FA217: Cessna 162, N162KG, Memphis, TN, May 31, 2022 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Class 3 · Field · Final report - Date: May 31, 2022, 08:35 local (13:35 UTC) - Place: Memphis, TN · soybean field - Coordinates: 35.1864, -90.1151 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.1864&lon=-90.1151&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute: Medical event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/850) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 1 fatal - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA Flight Standards, Textron Aviation - NTSB case key (mKey): 105150 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN22FA217 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/105150/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=105150 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN22FA217 ## Probable cause Pilot incapacitation due to an acute cardiac event. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Impairment/incapacitation: cardiovascular](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02012050): Personnel issues › Physical · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 162, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02012050/cases.md?model=060005E), [All aircraft, 69 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02012050/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute: Medical event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/850) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 162, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/850/sequence.md?model=060005E), [All aircraft, 63 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/850/sequence.md) - [Enroute: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Cessna 162, 16 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=060005E), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis After takeoff, the pilot maneuvered the airplane in the local area for about 30 minutes. He then contacted approach control and informed the controller that he was experiencing chest pains. The airplane became established on a course to return to the departure airport. However, a few minutes later, the flight track abruptly turned away from the airport. The airplane entered a descent and impacted a soybean field. The fuselage, right wing, and vertical stabilizer were damaged during impact. Postaccident airframe and engine examinations did not reveal any preimpact anomalies. The pilot had a history of coronary artery disease, including a previous heart attack, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol. Records demonstrated that he was intermittently non-compliant with his medication regimen. Considering the evidence about the pilot’s underlying severe coronary artery disease, his non-compliance with his medical regimen, likely continued use of tobacco, and reported chest pain to air traffic control, it is likely the pilot experienced an in-flight acute cardiac event, most likely cardiac ischemia, that caused the accident. The investigation could not determine if effects from his use of the sedating antihistamine diphenhydramine contributed to the accident. ## Factual narrative On May 31, 2022, at 0835 central daylight time, a Cessna 162 airplane, N162KG, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Memphis, Tennessee. The pilot was fatally injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The flight departed the General Dewitt Spain Airport (M01), Memphis, Tennessee, at 0732 and proceeded about 16 miles northwest. The airplane remained in that vicinity for about 30 minutes, and the altitude varied from about 1,200 ft mean sea level (msl) to about 2,500 ft msl. The flight track appeared consistent with general flight maneuvers. At 0826, the pilot contacted Memphis approach and informed the controller that he was experiencing chest pains. The airplane was about 9 miles west of M01 at that time. The pilot subsequently established the airplane on an easterly course toward M01. However, at 0833, the flight track turned southbound, and the airplane entered a descent and impacted terrain. The pilot had reported coronary artery disease, including a previous heart attack and a history of high blood pressure and high cholesterol. Records demonstrated that he was intermittently non-compliant with his medication regimen but at the time of the last medical exam, he reported he was using rosuvastatin and ezetimibe to treat his high cholesterol. According to the autopsy report issued by the Office of the Medical Examiner, West Tennessee Regional Forensic Center, the cause of death was multiple blunt force injuries and the manner of death was accident. The pilot was noted to have biventricular dilated cardiomyopathy (cardiomegaly). Stents were noted in the left anterior descending coronary artery, left circumflex coronary artery, and right coronary artery, each with “associated calcific atherosclerotic stenosis,” including > 95% stenosis of the left anterior descending, ~50% stenosis of the left circumflex, and ~75-90% stenosis of the right coronary artery. A 0.7 cm scar was noted in the posterior wall of the ventricle. Microscopic examination of the heart noted an area of “wavy myocytes” that was considered indeterminant in that it may have been due to trauma or could have been due to acute ischemic injury. Toxicology tests performed at the request of the medical examiner identified caffeine, cotinine, diphenhydramine (330 ng/ml) in heart blood. Testing of vitreous for clinical indicators were within appropriate postmortem limits. Toxicology testing performed by the Federal Aviation Administration’s Forensic Sciences Laboratory identified diphenhydramine at 496 ng/ml in heart blood and was inconclusive for ibuprofen. Both were detected in urine. Caffeine is the stimulant commonly found in coffee, black tea, and colas. Cotinine is found in tobacco and is the primary metabolite of nicotine. Diphenhydramine is a sedating antihistamine used to treat allergy symptoms and as a sleep aid. The pilot’s logbook was not available to the National Transportation SafetyBoard during the course of the investigation. The airplane impacted a soybean field about 3 miles west-southwest of M01. The airplane came to rest inverted about 90 ft from the initial ground impact. The fuselage, right wing, and vertical stabilizer were damaged during impact. Postaccident airframe and engine examinations did not reveal any preimpact anomalies. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N162KG](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N162KG), registered now, S/N 16200011 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna Aircraft Co. 162 - Registry model: [Cessna 162](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-162) (registry code 060005E) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 16200011 - Year built: 2010 - Airframe hours: 1599 - Engines: Continental O-200-D 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Jay Air LLC, doing business as Downtown Aviation - Registered owner: Jay Air LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Special light-sport (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, March 31, 2022, 3 hours before - Departed: M01, Memphis, TN - Destination: M01, Memphis, TN - Airport: M01, General Dewitt Spain - Equipment: Stall warning system, ADS-B, Electronic multifunction display, Electronic primary flight display ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 62; injuries: fatal; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; toxicology performed; flight hours: 8,675 total ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 200° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 70 °F - Altimeter: 30.02 inHg - Observed at: AWM, 6.6 nm away ## 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 20220531021249A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20220531021249A), May 31, 2022: Cessna Aircraft Co 162, Memphis, TN, Destroyed, 1 fatal. [privacy data omitted] Departed General Dewitt Spain Airport (M01) at 0732 CDT. The pilot was a 62 year old male with more than 8675 total flight hours and no… ## Docket (13 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 19, 2023, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=105150. 43.9 MB in all. - Plot of airplane position data (item 1, PDF, 4 pages, 1.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14265584&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Plot%20of%20Airplane%20Position%20Data%20--%20CEN22FA217-Rel.pdf - Transcript of radio communications (item 2, PDF, 6 pages, 137 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14193168&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ATC%20Transcript%20--%20CEN22FA217-Rel.pdf - ADS-B data file (item 3, CSV, 4.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14268101&FileExtension=csv&FileName=20220531_A0FA04_485229104_ADSB-Rel.csv - Airplane examination summary (item 4, PDF, 3 pages, 156 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14273505&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Examination%20Summary%20--%20CEN22FA217-Rel.pdf - Accident photos (item 5, PDF, 10 pages, 2.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14335067&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Accident%20Photos%20--%20CEN22FA217-Rel.pdf - Airplane flight log (item 6, PDF, 1 page, 2.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14266012&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Airplane%20Flight%20Log%20~%20N162KG-Rel.pdf - Maintenance records -- status sheet (item 7, PDF, 1 page, 19.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14265764&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Maintenance%20Records%20--%20Mx%20Status_redacted-Rel.pdf - Maintenance records -- airframe (item 8, PDF, 1 page, 7.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14265539&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Maintenance%20Records%20--%20Airframe_redacted-Rel.pdf - Maintenance records -- engine (item 9, PDF, 1 page, 5.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14265602&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Maintenance%20Records%20--%20Engine_redacted-Rel.pdf - Toxicological report (item 10, PDF, 1 page, 204 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16204913&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Toxicology%20Rpt%20~%20Malcolm%20King_redacted-Rel.pdf - Medical factual (item 11, PDF, 3 pages, 137 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14238597&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=CEN22FA217_Medical%20Factual%20Report-Rel.pdf - Statement of party representatives to NTSB investigation (item 12, PDF, 1 page, 168 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14263785&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Party%20Form%20--%20Textron_redacted-Rel.pdf - Release of aircraft wreckage, NTSB form 6120.15 (item 13, PDF, 1 page, 156 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14273463&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Release%20of%20Wreckage%20--%20CEN22FA217_rdacted-Rel.pdf 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.