Accident Overview
On March 31, 2022, at about 1100 central daylight time, a Mooney M20E airplane (N21BS) was substantially damaged during a taxi incident at Kerrville Municipal Airport (ERV), Texas. The pilot, who was the sole occupant, sustained fatal injuries. The flight was operated under Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight.
Sequence of Events
After completing a local flight and landing at ERV, a witness observed the airplane taxi at a high speed, appearing to be out of control. The aircraft taxied over a grass-covered area and onto the ramp, where it struck the empennage of a parked Rockwell Commander (N25CE). The Mooney's left wing became wedged underneath the Commander's tail section. Airport personnel responded and found the pilot unresponsive, slumped over the flight controls. Medical personnel at the airport initiated CPR, but the pilot did not respond and was later pronounced deceased at a hospital.
Aircraft Damage and Examination
The Mooney's left wing sustained substantial damage. The Rockwell Commander's right horizontal stabilizer also sustained substantial damage. Post-accident examination of the Mooney's flight control and brake systems revealed no anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. The engine exhaust system was found normal and intact.
Pilot Medical Information
The pilot's most recent Basic Med certificate was dated August 18, 2020. His third-class medical certificate expired in 2018, with his last examination on August 31, 2016, during which he reported taking medications for high cholesterol, high blood pressure, and low thyroid function.
Autopsy and Toxicology
An autopsy performed by the Travis County Medical Examiner determined the cause of death as atherosclerotic and hypertensive cardiovascular disease in association with obesity, with the manner of death ruled natural. Toxicology testing by the Travis County medical examiner's office detected amlodipine, a high blood pressure medication considered non-impairing, in the pilot's femoral blood. Additional testing by the FAA's Forensic Sciences laboratory found amlodipine and propafenone in heart blood and liver tissue. Propafenone is used to treat life-threatening irregular heartbeats and can itself cause new irregular heartbeats and increase the risk of death. Its use would require FAA review and approval.