WPR10FA324

While on approach to land, the pilot reported over the UNICOM frequency that he was not able to feel his left side. Subsequently, the airplane crashed about 2 miles from the airport. A postaccident examination of the airframe and engine revealed no evidence of mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. Although diphenhydramine, an impairing medication, was detected in the pilot’s liver and brain, the available information does not allow a determination of postmortem levels. The autopsy findings noted severe coronary artery disease of the left and right coronary arteries. It is likely that the pilot suffered an incapacitating heart attack while in flight, which led to a loss of airplane control.

HISTORY OF FLIGHT On July 1, 2010, about 1300 Pacific daylight time, a Cessna 182P, N222CG, impacted terrain about 2 miles northeast of Catalina Airport (AVX), Avalon, California. The pilot was fatally injured and the airplane was substantially damaged in the post-impact fire. The pilot/owner operated the airplane under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight that departed the Gillespie Airport (SEE), San Diego, California, at an undetermined time. The airplane was destined for Catalina, and no flight plan had been filed. According to the airport manager, who was monitoring the airport's UNICOM frequency at the time, the pilot reported no feeling on his right side and that he thought he was having a heart attack. The airport manager reported no further communications with the pilot. Shortly after the pilot radioed that he was having a medical issue, smoke was observed by one of the conservancy park rangers near Echo Lake. Responding personnel from the Los Angeles County fire department reported an airplane crash with an ensuing 20-acre fire. A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector responded to the accident site the following day. He reported that the main wreckage came to rest on about a 45-degree slope and appeared to have tumbled as the wings were in their normal relative position, but upside down. He stated that both wings, a portion of the tail section, and the engine were not consumed by the post impact fire. PERSONNEL INFORMATION A review of Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) airman records revealed that the 54-year-old pilot held a private pilot certificate with ratings for airplane single-engine land, which he received on October 18, 2007. The pilot held a third-class medical certificate issued on May 6, 2009. It had the limitations that the pilot must wear lenses for distant vision. An examination of the pilot's logbook revealed that the pilot had recorded a total flight time of 702.2 hours. He logged 16.7 hours in the last 90 days, and 0 hours in the last 30 days. He had an estimated 131 hours in the accident airplane make and model, and had completed a flight review on October 13, 2009. AIRCRAFT INFORMATION Investigators were not able to locate the airplane’s logbooks. They were, however, able to obtain copies of the most current inspections from the maintenance facility that had performed the last annual inspection on February 18, 2010. The airplane, a Cessna 182P serial number 18263934, had a total time of 1,697.3 hours. The total time since major overhaul for the Continental O-470-S2K engine, serial number 819162-R, was 220.5 hours. Total time for the McCauley propeller 2A34C203-C, serial number 982234, was 441.7 hours (time since new). MEDICAL AND PATHOLOGICAL INFORMATION The Department of Coroner, County of Los Angeles, completed an autopsy on July 3, 2010. The FAA Bioaeronautical Sciences Research Laboratory, OklahomaCity, Oklahoma, performed toxicological testing of specimens from the pilot. The autopsy noted severe coronary atherosclerosis 90-percent narrowing of the right and left coronary arteries, and soot in the upper and lower airways. The Forensic Science Laboratory detected less than 0.50 ug/ml of diphenhydramine. The cause of death was listed as traumatic injury with thermal burns; other conditions contributing to, but not related to the immediate cause of death was listed as occlusive coronary arteriosclerosis. Analysis of the specimens for the pilot detected diphenhydramine in the liver and brain. There was no ethanol detected in volatiles test. They did not perform tests for carbon monoxide or cyanide. TESTS AND RESEARCH Examination of the wreckage revealed that fire had consumed most of the airplane’s structure. The cabin floor where the main gear attached was the largest identifiable portion of the cabin. Recovery personnel reported having to cut all of the control cables to facilitate the recovery of the airplane. The aileron control cables were connected to each aileron bellcrank and the control column. The rudder cables were attached to the rudder horn and the rudder pedal bars. The elevator cables were attached to the rear elevator bellcrank. Investigators noted that the fuel system had been consumed by the post-impact fire. The fuel selector valve and handle were not located. The fuel strainer screen was clear of debris. They were not able to determine the ignition switch position. The engine sustained significant fire damage. Portions of all valve covers were melted. The cylinder head for the number 5 cylinder was melted. The top of the crankcase had melted away; consequently investigators were not able to rotate the engine. The right magneto had partially melted away, and the carburetor was found in multiple pieces. The two-bladed propeller remained attached to the propeller hub. One propeller blade had melted off near the hub. The other propeller blade was bent aft and exhibited scrape marks along its forward side and had leading edge damage. The inspection of the airframe and engine revealed no abnormalities that would have prevented normal operation.