Pilot unconscious at 2,500 feet; passenger lands plane (N8457H)

What happened

The aircraft was maintaining level flight at an altitude of approximately 2,500 feet when the pilot suddenly became unconscious. Recognizing the severity of the situation, the pilot-rated passenger in the cockpit immediately contacted the control tower to report a medical emergency.

With the primary pilot incapacitated, the passenger assumed control of the aircraft and successfully executed a landing. Upon arrival on the ground, efforts were made to revive the pilot, but these attempts were unsuccessful. The pilot-rated passenger later received confirmation that the pilot had suffered a heart attack caused by severe underlying heart disease.