# NTSB MIA97LA077: Beech 95-B55, N70F, Monroe, NC, February 1, 1997 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: February 1, 1997, 11:48 local (16:48 UTC) - Place: Monroe, NC - Coordinates: 35.069076, -80.520332 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.0691&lon=-80.5203&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 1 fatal, 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 10, 1998 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 38215 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA97LA077 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/38215/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA97LA077 ## Probable cause pilot incapacitation as result of Ischemic heart disease. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Miscellaneous/other, approach - vfr pattern - final approach - aircraft control - uncontrolled, pilot in command (cause) - incapacitation(cardiovascular), pilot in command (cause) ## Analysis The passenger said that before the flight the pilot was complaining about 'not feeling well.' During the flight the pilot's condition got worse, he complained about 'tingling in his fingers and pressure on his chest.' Several witnesses saw the airplane on final approach, about 50 to 100 feet above the ground, flying erratically, heading towards buildings and hangers. The pilot became too ill to fly the airplane, and the passenger had taken control of the airplane, and landed without hitting any buildings, but struck a pole with the right wing. An autopsy was performed on the pilot, and according to the Autopsy Report, the pathological diagnoses were: 'Ischemic heart disease (coronary atherosclerosis, focal, severe) and pulmonary congestion with focal hemorrhage.' Cause of death: 'Ischemic heart disease.' ## Factual narrative On February 1, 1997, about 1148 eastern standard time, a Beech 95-B55, N70F, registered to Insight Talent Inc., was substantially damaged during a forced landing, near Monroe, North Carolina. The commercial-rated pilot was removed from the wreckage, and taken to a local hospital, where he was pronounced "dead." One passenger was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions (VMC) prevailed in the vicinity, and no flight plan had been filed. The local personal flight was being conducted in accordance with Title 14 CFR Part 91. According to the FAA inspector's statement the passenger told him that before the flight the pilot was complaining about "not feeling well." During the flight the pilot's "condition got worse, he complained about tingling in his fingers and pressure on his chest." Several witnesses saw the airplane on final approach, about 50 to 100 feet above the ground, flying erratically, heading towards buildings and hangers. The pilot became too ill to fly the airplane, and the passenger had taken control of the airplane, and landed without hitting any buildings, but struck a pole with the right wing. The FAA inspector talked to the medical examiner, and said the medical examiner stated that the "pilot died instantly and was dead before the aircraft hit the ground." An autopsy was performed on the pilot, on February 3, 1997, at the Medical Examiner's Office, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, by Dr. Robert L Thompson. According to the Autopsy Report, the pathological diagnoses was: "Ischemic heart disease...coronary atherosclerosis...focal, severe pulmonary congestion with focal hemorrhage." Cause of death: "Ischemic heart disease." Toxicological tests were conducted at the Medical Examiner's Office, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, and revealed, "...no drugs or alcohol detected...." ## Aircraft - Registration: [N70F](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N70F-2013-02-20), registration cancelled 2013-02-20, S/N TC-1637, built 1973 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Beech 95-B55 - Registry model: [Beech 95-B55 (T42A)](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-95-b55-t42a) (registry code 1152706) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental I0-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-i0-470-series) (registry code 17027, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: TC-1637 - Airframe hours: 3014 - Engines: Continental IO-470L 260 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Insight Talent Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, August 30, 1996 - Departed: EQY - Airport: EQY, Monroe, runway 23, 5,500 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 47; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 2,800 total ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 230° at 6 knots - Visibility: 25 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 63 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: CLT, 30 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 19970201001139A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970201001139A), Feb 1, 1997: Beech 95B55, Monroe, NC, Substantial damage. On departure from airport, pilot passed out. Passenger attempted to land, struck a pole, and trees on landing. (-23) before take off pilot was complaining of… 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.