Piper PA-28-150 N5474W

Summary

On 21 August 1988 at about 19:15 local time, a Piper PA-28-150 registered N5474W was involved in an accident near Wall Township, New Jersey, United States. 2 people were on board and one was seriously injured, one had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

21 August 1988 at 19:15

Classification

Accident

Location

Wall Township, New Jersey, United States

Coordinates

Not recorded

Aircraft

Piper PA-28-150

Registration

N5474W

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Matawan → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

NYC88LA224

1 person was seriously injured.

INCAPACITATION OF THE PILOT DUE TO A HEART ATTACK AND AN EMERGENCY LANDING IN TREES BY A NON-PILOT PASSENGER.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE PVT PILOT OF A PIPER PA-28-150 TOOK OFF WITH ONE PASSENGER AND FEW MINUTES AFTER TAKEOFF, HE BECAME UNCONSCIOUS. THE PASSENGER GAVE THE PILOT MOUTH TO MOUTH RESUSCITATION; HOWEVER, THE PILOT WAS NOT REVIVED. THE NON-PILOT PASSENGER ATTEMPTED AN OFF-AIRPORT LANDING AND STRUCK TREES. THE PILOT RECEIVED MINOR INJURIES AND THE PASSENGER RECEIVED SERIOUS INJURIES. THE UNCONSCIOUS PILOT WAS REMOVED FROM THE AIRCRAFT WHERE ATTEMPTS WERE MADE TO REVIVE HIM. HE WAS TRANSPORTED TO A LOCAL MEDICAL FACILITY WHERE HE WAS PRONOUNCED DEAD. THE PILOT HAD BEEN UNDER TREATMENT FOR HYPERTENSION (HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE). AN AUTOPSY SHOWED SEVERE OCCLUSION OF HIS CORONARY ARTERIES. TOXICOLOGY TEST REVEALED THE PRESENCE OF VERAMPAMIL, A CARDIAC MEDICATION WHICH HAD BEEN PRESCRIBED. THE PASSENGER HAD NO PREVIOUS FLYING EXPERIENCE.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.