What happened
While operating a flight from Arizona to California, the pilot experienced sudden nausea and vomiting. This medical episode followed an incident at the pilot's residence where he had been using the pesticide Dursban; during the application, pressure from the container sprayed chemical vapor into his face. During the flight, the aircraft was being operated via autopilot at 10,500 feet msl, having descended from 16,500 feet msl. Following the onset of illness, the pilot lost radio contact with air traffic control.
Upon regaining consciousness, the pilot found himself over the ocean, approximately 186 nautical miles southwest of his destination, with visibility obscured by clouds. After a brief visual exchange with a Navy F18 fighter jet, the pilot realized his position and attempted to reverse course toward land. Although another aircraft successfully relayed his distress message to air traffic control, the pilot was forced to declare a medical emergency due to critical fuel levels. Within ten minutes of the declaration, the aircraft ran out of fuel. The pilot transitioned the aircraft into a glide configuration to facilitate a ditching in the ocean at dusk.
Following the impact, the pilot exited the aircraft carrying a handheld VHF radio, two flashlights, a mobile phone, and a trash bag used for buoyancy. He climbed onto the fuselage to wait for assistance in the dark. After approximately 30 minutes, a Navy S3B aircraft located the wreckage, and a rescue helicopter subsequently recovered the pilot.
Findings
- The pilot's sudden incapacitation was caused by exposure to Dursban pesticide vapors during a prior cleaning and replenishment process at his home.