What happened
During a night visual approach to an airport, an aircraft impacted terrain. The event followed a partial loss of power in the right engine that had occurred earlier during the cruise phase of flight.
The pilot did not declare an emergency following the engine issue. Initially, the pilot elected to divert to the airport of last departure, located 37 nautical miles west of the accident airport. However, air traffic control notified the pilot of a closer airport available for landing. During the approach to this airport, the pilot made three exclamations over the tower frequency and exhibited heavy breathing.
The investigation
Investigators examined the wreckage and performed component testing on the engines. This examination did not reveal any mechanical problems that would have caused the partial loss of power in the right engine.
An autopsy of the pilot was also conducted. The medical examination revealed that an aortic dissection—a tear in the aorta—had occurred prior to the accident. This condition resulted in a rapid accumulation of blood around the heart, which substantially impaired heart function and led to pilot impairment or incapacitation.
Findings
- The pilot suffered from an aortic dissection prior to the impact.
- The medical condition caused significant impairment of heart function.
- There was no mechanical evidence to support the reported loss of engine power.