What happened
While operating a multi-engine airplane within five nautical miles of the airport, the pilot-in-command (PIC) was executing a practice instrument approach using VOR navigation. To maintain the desired course, the PIC initiated a descending left turn. Within two to three seconds of this maneuver, the aircraft entered a steep descent.
During the descent, the pilot became unconscious and subsequently passed away. A passenger seated in the rear of the aircraft, who held a rating for single-engine aircraft and had 600 flight hours, took control of the airplane.
The passenger contacted airport personnel via the Unicom frequency to request emergency services and asked for assistance with landing procedures from a pilot rated for multi-engine aircraft. Assisted by an airline pilot communicating via radio, the passenger successfully landed the aircraft without incident. Emergency medical personnel met the plane upon arrival.
Findings
An autopsy of the pilot-in-command, who held a valid third-class medical certificate, determined that the cause of death was a heart attack.