What happened
At 13:11:35, the pilot contacted Palm Beach Departure to report an unspecified problem while flying near Stuart, intending to return to the Palm and Palm Beach airport. Shortly after, at 13:12:01, the pilot reported experiencing a severe headache at the base of his neck. Two minutes later, the pilot stated that his implanted defibrillator had discharged. At 13:15:08, the pilot declared a "mayday," reporting a loss of eyesight and an intention to fly east. The pilot expressed concern about his ability to return to the airport, stating he did not want to cause further harm. The final radio communication occurred at 13:15:40.
Radar data showed that near Jupiter around 13:15, the unidentified aircraft turned eastbound over the Atlantic Ocean. Between 13:15 and 13:20, the aircraft climbed from 1,300 feet to 4,100 feet. A subsequent descent from 4,100 feet to 300 feet occurred between 13:20 and 13:22, at which point radar contact was lost at 13:22:25. At 13:22:37, the pilot of N402JH reported that the aircraft had impacted the water. The U.S. Coast Guard located a debris field at 14:53, though only a plastic bag containing paper was recovered. There were no survivors.
The investigation
A review of the pilot's medical records revealed that approximately two years prior to the accident, the pilot underwent an aortic valve replacement due to severe aortic insufficiency. Additionally, about 18 months before the accident, a cardioverter/defibrillator was implanted following findings of frequent abnormal rhythms and inducible monomorphic ventricular tachycardia.
An examination of airman records showed the pilot held a second-class medical certificate issued on June 26, 2000. Under 14 CFR Part 61.23, the duration of such a certificate is subject to age-based expiration limits. Furthermore, 14 CFR Part 67 regulations specify that for first, second, and third-class medical certificates, cardiovascular standards prohibit a clinical diagnosis or medical history of cardiac valve replacement or permanent pacemaker implantation.