On February 9, 1997, a Piper PA-44-180T (registration N8457H) operated by Wagner Airways was involved in an aviation accident near Caldwell, NJ. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's incapacitation due to a heart attack resulting from severe heart disease. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive; 1 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.
A pilot lost consciousness at 2,500 feet during flight. A passenger rated pilot took control and landed the aircraft safely after informing the tower of a medical emergency.
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.
Probable cause
The pilot's incapacitation due to a heart attack resulting from severe heart disease.