Pilot's Autopsy Reveals Cardiac Conditions After Runway 33 Approach Crash (N9829R)

Incident Report

The pilot was flying an airplane on a base leg approach for Runway 33. During the approach, he transmitted that he saw a twin Cessna aircraft holding on Runway 36. After that transmission, no further communications were received from the airplane. The airplane crashed and was found one-quarter mile from the approach end of Runway 33. An autopsy performed on the pilot revealed that he had far advanced calcific atheromatosis of the coronary arteries, a recent occlusive thrombosis of the left anterior descending coronary artery, and a history of cardiac arrhythmia. The calcific atheromatosis is a condition characterized by hardening and narrowing of the arteries due to calcium deposits. The thrombosis involved a blood clot that had recently occluded the left anterior descending coronary artery, a critical vessel supplying blood to the heart. The pilot's documented history of cardiac arrhythmia indicates pre-existing irregular heartbeats.