- Date
- February 9, 1997, 16:43 local (21:43 UTC)
- Place
- Caldwell, NJ
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 1 uninjured
- Damage
- No damage
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Aircraft
- N8457HPiper PA-44-180T
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report February 28, 2000
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19970209005619I
- Case key
- 39325
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 incapacitation due to a heart attack.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The airplane was level at approximately 2,500 feet when the pilot became unconscious. The pilot-rated passenger advised the control tower of the medical emergency and landed. Attempts to revive the pilot were unsuccessful. The pilot-rated passenger stated that he was later informed the pilot suffered a heart attack as a result of severe heart disease.
Factual narrative
On February 9, 1997 at 1643 Eastern Standard Time, N8457H, a Piper PA-44-180T, was on a personal flight when the pilot became incapacitated and died during a flight to Lincoln Park Airport (N07), Lincoln Park, New Jersey. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The pilot-rated passenger was not injured. The airplane was not damaged. The departure point was Greenwood Lake Airport, West Milford, New Jersey.
According to the pilot-rated passenger, the airplane was level at 2,500 feet, approaching the Lincoln Park Airport. The pilot "...slumped over onto the controls." The pilot-rated passenger restrained the pilot and took control of the airplane. He chose to land at Essex County Airport (CDW), Caldwell, New Jersey, because the airplane was oriented on a straight-in approach to Runway 22. He advised the control tower of the medical emergency and proceeded to the airport. After landing, attempts to revive the pilot were unsuccessful. The pilot-rated passenger stated that he was later informed the pilot suffered a heart attack as a result of severe heart disease.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N8457H
- Reported as
- Piper PA-44-180T
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 44-8207001
- Engine
- Lycoming TO-360 SER, 210 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- No damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Wagner Airways
- Registered owner
- Forrest Aviation Corportation
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Departed
- 4N1 · West Milford, NJ
- Destination
- N07 · Lincoln Park, NJ
- Airport
- CDW · Essex County Airport, runway 22, 4,553 × 80 ft, asphalt
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 46
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Toxicology
- Performed
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 320° at 7 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 37 °F, dew point 9 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- TEB, 10 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.