Incident Overview
While on a heading of approximately 270 degrees, the pilot was instructed to follow another airplane into the airport. Instead of turning onto the final approach, he continued flying for nearly 3 miles. When air traffic control (ATC) directed him to turn to a heading of 180 degrees for resequencing, the pilot turned to 330 degrees, toward the airport, and began a descent from 2,000 feet.
Flight Path and Speed Changes
The airplane descended to 1,600 feet, then climbed back to 2,000 feet while making a shallow left turn. During this maneuver, the pilot contacted approach control and continued the turn to a heading of 150 degrees. Radar data indicated that the aircraft's speed began to decrease as the airplane climbed. The speed continued to drop to 44 knots, at which point the airplane started to descend, followed by a left spin, and impacted the water. Radar data showed no rapid course changes prior to the low point of speed.
Pilot Communication and Medical History
Review of the air/ground tapes revealed that the pilot sometimes took almost a minute between frequency changes, and his voice was described as indecisive and hesitant. The pilot had been treated for seizures since 1974, and anti-seizure medication was found in his toxicological samples.