- Date
- September 28, 2014, 10:00 local (13:00 UTC)
- Place
- Ceiba, PR
- Injuries
- 1 minor, 6 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Taxi
- Aircraft
- N906GDBritten-Norman BN-2A
- Defining event
- Taxi-to runway: Miscellaneous/other
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report April 20, 2016
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Eastern Region Aviation
- Parties
- FAA
- FAA report
- 20140928020909A
- Case key
- 90223
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot’s loss of consciousness during taxi for reasons that could not be determined based on the available information.
Findings · 2
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
The airline transport pilot was taxiing the airplane for takeoff for the on-demand air taxi commuter flight. The pilot reported that, while taxiing to the runway, he felt dizzy and lost consciousness. The airplane subsequently veered off the taxiway into a ditch with the engines were still running. The pilot shut down the engines and instructed the passengers to exit the airplane. The pilot reported that it was hot and that he hadn't eaten breakfast before the accident flight; however, neither of these things should have caused the pilot to lose consciousness without other health issues involved. A review of the pilot's medical history revealed no evidence that he was taking any medications or that he had visited health care providers for any medical issues. The reason that the pilot lost consciousness could not be determined based on the available information.
Factual narrative
On September 28, 2014, about 1000 Atlantic daylight time, a Britten-Norman BN-2A-26, N906GD, collided with a ditch after the pilot reported that he lost consciousness while taxiing for takeoff at Jose Aponte de la Torre Airport (TJRV), Ceiba, Puerto Rico. The airline transport pilot received minor injuries and the six passengers were not injured. The airplane sustained substantial damage. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The airplane was registered to Air Charter Incorporated, and operated by Air Flamenco under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 135 as an on-demand air taxi flight from TJRV to Benjamin Rivera Noriega Airport (TJCP), Isla de Culebra, Puerto Rico.The pilot reported that prior to the flight, it was extremely hot that day and he did not eat breakfast. While taxiing to the runway, he felt dizzy, lost consciousness, and subsequently the airplane veered off the taxiway and came to rest in a ditch. When the pilot regained consciousness the engines were still running and the passengers were asking the pilot "what should they do." The pilot shut down the engines and instructed the passengers to open and exit through the rear of the airplane. The passengers exited through the rear doors and gathered on the taxiway behind the airplane. The pilot exited the airplane, verified that there were no injuries, and called for emergency services. Examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector revealed that the airplane sustained substantial damage to the nose gear firewall. A review of the pilot's most recent medical evaluation dated September 25, 2014, for an FAA first-class medical certificate, revealed that the pilot was in good health and only had limitations for wearing corrective lenses. There were no reports of any medications or any visits to health care providers in any of the medical history forms supplied as part of his medical exams. The 0853 recorded weather at the TJRV, included wind from 160 degrees at 5 knots, 10 statute miles visibility, and clear, temperature of 28 degrees C, dew point temperature of 25 degrees C, and an altimeter setting of 30.01 inches of mercury.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N906GD
- Reported as
- Britten-Norman BN-2A (26)
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 3008
- Built
- 1984
- Airframe hours
- 15,926
- Engines
- Lycoming O-540-E4C5, 260 horsepower, reciprocatingLycoming O-540-E4C5, 260 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Part 135
- Operator
- Air Charter Inc, doing business as Air Flamenco
- Registered owner
- Air Charter Inc
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- AAIP · September 9, 2014 · 24 hours before
- Departed
- TJRV · Ceiba, PR
- Destination
- TJCP · Isla de Culebra, PR
- Airport
- TJRV · Jose Aponte de la Torre Airpor, runway 7/25, 11,000 × 150 ft, concrete
- Equipment
- Stall warning system
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 56
- Injuries
- Minor
- Certificates
- Commercial, Airline transport
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 1, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- September 1, 2013
- Seat
- Left
- Restraint
- 3-point
- Flight hours
- 22,000 total · 4,500 in this make and model · 14,000 as pilot in command · 230 in the last 90 days · 75 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 160° at 5 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 82 °F, dew point 77 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.01 inHg
- Observed at
- TJNR
Docket · 3
The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 8, 2016, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 2.2 MB in all.
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.