# NTSB CHI85IA296: Piper PA-28-180D, N5328L, Lansing, MI, July 17, 1985

- Type: NTSB incident investigation
- Classification: Incident · Fatal · Incident investigation · Final report
- Date: July 17, 1985, 14:58 local (18:58 UTC)
- Place: Lansing, MI
- Coordinates: 42.790508, -84.589256 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.7905&lon=-84.5893&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal, 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 12918
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI85IA296
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/12918/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI85IA296

## Sequence of events

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

- Miscellaneous/other, cruise - normal
  - procedures/directives - not followed, pilot in command
  - qualification, pilot in command
  - aircraft handling - not possible, pilot in command
  - incapacitation(cardiovascular), pilot in command (cause)
  - remedial action - performed, passenger
- In flight collision with terrain/water, landing

## Analysis

WHILE EN ROUTE TO JACKSON, MI, THE OWNER/PLT SUFFERED AN APPARENT HEART ATTACK. THE PASSENGER, WHO WAS A PRIVATE PLT, SAFELY LANDED THE ACFT AT LANSING, MI. THE OWNER/PLT'S WIFE SAID THAT HE HAD A PLT CERTIFICATE, BUT SHE COULD NOT LOCATE IT. THERE WAS NO RECORD OF THE PLT EVER POSSESSING AN FAA PLT OR MEDICAL CERTIFICATE. THE PASSENGER'S LAST MEDICAL CERTIFICATE WAS DATED PRIOR TO 1973. A PATHOLOGICAL EXAM OF THE PLT SHOWED HE HAD SEVERE ATHEROSCLEROTIC CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE WITH EVIDENCE OF AN OLD MYOCARDIAL INFARCTION. A TOXICOLOGY CHECK OF THE PLT'S BLOOD SHOWED A LOW LEVEL OF ALCOHOL (0.031%); HOWEVER, NO RELATIONSHIP WAS ESTABLISHED BETWEEN CONSUMPTION OF ALCOHOL & THE HEART ATTACK.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N5328L (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28-180D
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 28-4632
- Engines: LYCOMING O-360-A3A 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Minor damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Marvin L Gillette
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: FHT, FLINT, MI
- Destination: JACKSON, MI
- Airport: LAN, Lansing-Capital City

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 52; seat: left; toxicology performed

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 140° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 50 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: LAN

## 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 19850717031809A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19850717031809A), Jul 17, 1985: Piper PA28180, Lansing, MI, Minor damage. Non certificated pilot died of heart failure. Passenger with private certificate landed airplane at Lansing Airport

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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