Incident Overview
A non-pilot passenger took control of an aircraft shortly after takeoff when the pilot became incapacitated. The flight was en route to Alaska with a planned stop in Canton, Texas. According to the pilot's wife, as the aircraft passed over the departure end of the runway, her husband released the controls and threw his head back. She then assumed control of the aircraft.
Inflight Assistance and Duration
The wife kept the aircraft airborne for almost two hours with assistance from another pilot who communicated with her via radio. During this period, she managed to maintain flight while seeking guidance.
Engine Failure and Forced Landing
Both engines subsequently quit due to fuel starvation. The wife executed a forced landing approximately three miles from the Fayetteville, Arkansas airport. The landing concluded the nearly two-hour ordeal.
Pilot Condition
After the incident, the wife stated that she felt her husband had died just after takeoff. The report does not provide specific medical confirmation or further details regarding the pilot's condition.
Operational Details
The aircraft was traveling from an unspecified departure point with the first stop planned at Canton, Texas. The final destination was Alaska. The forced landing site was near the Fayetteville airport in Arkansas.