# NTSB ERA22LA220: Cirrus Design SR22, N24LA, Tybee Island, GA, May 6, 2022 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Class 3 · Limited · Final report - Date: May 6, 2022, 08:44, time zone not recorded - Place: Tybee Island, GA · lat/long from FAA Neil Baker 31-42.34N 80-42.44W - Location: 32.0094° N, 80.8562° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Tybee Island, GA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs) - NTSB coordinates: 31.705667, -80.707333, outside the stated state - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.0094&lon=-80.8562&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: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: Cirrus, FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 105047 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA22LA220 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/105047/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=105047 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA22LA220 ## Probable cause A loss of airplane control due to pilot incapacitation, which resulted in an overflight of his destination and subsequent descent into water. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Impairment/incapacitation: other loss of consciousness](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02012055): Personnel issues › Physical · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cirrus Design SR22, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02012055/cases.md?model=2130001), [All aircraft, 21 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02012055/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: [Cirrus Design SR22, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/850/sequence.md?model=2130001), [All aircraft, 63 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/850/sequence.md) - [Uncontrolled descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Cirrus Design SR22, 113 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2130001), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot was issued instrument approach instructions from air traffic control (ATC) and instructed to report over a waypoint. The pilot did not report over the waypoint and did not respond to any subsequent ATC communications. At the request of ATC, pilots of another airplane tried to get the accident pilot’s attention but were unsuccessful. They continued alongside and watched as the airplane descended into the ocean. The pilot had a history of heart palpitations and had a loop recorder heart monitor implanted in his left upper chest. The download of the device revealed a period of tachycardia during the time the pilot was not responding to ATC. It is likely that this cardiac event caused the pilot to be incapacitated. Examination revealed there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative On May 6, 2022, at 0844 eastern daylight time, a Cirrus Design Corp SR22, N24LA, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident in the Atlantic Ocean near Tybee Island, Georgia. The private pilot was fatally injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. A review of automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast (ADS-B) data and air traffic control information obtained from the Federal Aviation Administration revealed that the airplane departed runway 27 at Whiteplains Airport (SC99), Lexington, South Carolina, about 0738. The airplane turned to a southbound heading, climbed to an altitude of about 4,000 ft mean sea level (msl) and flew for about 10 nautical miles (nm). The pilot had requested and was given an approach clearance for the RNAV GPS approach to runway 17 at Barnwell Regional Airport (BNL), Barnwell, South Carolina, about 48 miles from SC99. The air traffic controller requested that the pilot provide a position report inbound on the approach over the “FATSU” waypoint. The pilot acknowledged the request but did not report passing the waypoint. The airplane overflew runway 17 at BNL at about 2,200 ft msl and continued to fly another 113 miles on a 170° heading. The airplane crossed over the eastern coastline of Tybee Island and continued over the Atlantic Ocean for about 15 miles then began to slow and descend briefly. Then, when passing through about 1,500 ft msl, the airplane entered a left arcing descending turn with a corresponding increase in groundspeed. The last ADS-B data received was at 0844, as the airplane descended through 75 ft msl about 18 nm southeast of Tybee Island. ATC asked pilots in another airplane to check on N24LA. The pilots rocked their wings but were unable to get the accident pilot’s attention and they continued to watch as the airplane descended into the ocean. An autopsy of the pilot was performed by the Division of Forensic Sciences, Georgia Bureau of Investigation, Coastal Regional Medical Examiner’s Office, Pooler, Georgia. The cause of death was “drowning”, and the manner of death was accidental. Toxicological testing performed by the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) Forensic Sciences Laboratory detected ethanol in the pilot’s heart blood tissues. Metoprolol was detected in his heart and liver tissues; this high blood pressure medication is generally considered non-impairing. Postmortem ethanol concentrations in blood samples have been positively correlated with the number of days before body recovery at sea. The pilot reported a history of ablation for atrial fibrillation with a loop recorder implanted, for which he had received an FAA authorization for special issuance. During the time that the pilot did not report the waypoint and did not respond to ATC, there was a 7:43 minute period of tachycardia with a median heart rate of 300 beats per minute. Postaccident examination of the recovered airframe verified flight controlcontinuity throughout the airframe from the cockpit controls to all primary flight control surfaces. Examination of the airframe and engine revealed no evidence of mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N24LA](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N24LA-2023-11-18), registration cancelled 2023-11-18, S/N 2013, built 2006 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CIRRUS DESIGN CORP SR22 - Registry model: [Cirrus Design SR22](https://openairdocs.org/model/cirrus-design-sr22) (registry code 2130001) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental IO-550-N](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-550-n) (registry code 17215, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 2013 - Year built: 2006 - Airframe hours: 1062.1 - Engines: Continental IO-550-N 310 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, July 1, 2021 - Departed: SC99, Lexington, SC - Destination: BNL, Barnwell, SC - Flight plan: IFR - Equipment: Airframe parachute ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 67; injuries: fatal; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: basicmed, with waivers/limitations; last flight review February 1, 2022; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 2,240 total, 279 in this make and model, 2,069 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 210° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 66 °F - Altimeter: 29.87 inHg - Observed at: BNL, 99 nm away - METAR: KBNL 061235Z AUTO 21005KT 10SM CLR 23/19 A2987 RMK AO2 ## 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 20220506006639A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20220506006639A), May 6, 2022: Cirrus Design Corp SR22, Savannah, GA, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Pilot departed home airport with the intention of stopping at barnwell regional airport(bnl). The pilot was communicating with ATC and started descent into… ## Docket (10 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 5, 2023, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=105047. 4.3 MB in all. - Medical factual (item 1, PDF, 5 pages, 170 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15032476&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ERA22LA220_Tybee_Island_GA_Medical_Factual_FINAL_013123-Rel.pdf - Witness statements (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 98 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15617221&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Witness%20MFR-Rel.pdf - Wreckage examination (item 3, PDF, 4 pages, 341 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15704426&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Wreckge%20exam-Rel.pdf - Pilot logbook (item 4, PDF, 1 page, 195 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15619637&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Pilot%20log_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Air traffic control transcripts (item 5, PDF, 1 page, 35 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15690583&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ERA22LA220%20-%20ATC%20Partial%20Transcript-Rel.pdf - ADS-B data (item 6, KMZ, 302 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15689877&FileExtension=kmz&FileName=N24LA%20-%20ADS-B%20Data-Rel.kmz - Statement of party representatives to NTSB investigation (item 7, PDF, 14 pages, 984 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15600939&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Cirrus%20-%20Party%20Form_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Release of aircraft wreckage, NTSB form 6120.15 (item 8, PDF, 1 page, 479 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15601067&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=N24LA%20Wreckage%20Release_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Toxicological report (item 9, PDF, 2 pages, 311 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15602065&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Toxicology_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photos (item 10, PDF, 5 pages, 1.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15617004&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photos-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.