Douglas DC-9-32 N5342L

Summary

On 29 March 1995 at about 23:26 local time, a Douglas DC-9-32 registered N5342L, operated by Grand Airways, was involved in an incident near Abilene, Texas, United States. 65 people were on board and one died. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

29 March 1995 at 23:26

Classification

Incident

Location

Abilene, Texas, United States

Coordinates

32.3403, -99.6708

Aircraft

Douglas DC-9-32

Registration

N5342L

Category

Airplane

Engines

2

Operator

Grand Airways

Operating rule

Part 121: Air Carrier

Purpose of flight

Unknown

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Phoenix → Dallas

Aircraft damage

Not recorded

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

FTW95IA148

1 person died.

INCAPACITATION OF THE FIRST OFFICER DUE TO A HEART ATTACK.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

WHILE IN CRUISE FLIGHT, THE FIRST OFFICER TOLD THE CAPTAIN HE WAS ILL. THE CAPTAIN ASSUMED CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE. LATER, THE FIRST OFFICER SAID HE WAS FEELING BETTER AND RESUMED FLYING THE AIRPLANE. ABOUT 30 MINUTES LATER, THE SYMPTOMS RETURNED. THE CAPTAIN ASSUMED AIRCRAFT CONTROL AGAIN AND DECLARED AN EMERGENCY. AS THE AIRPLANE WAS BEING DIVERTED TO ABILENE, TEXAS, A PASSENGER BEGAN CARDIOPULMONARY RESUSCITATION. THE FIRST OFFICER WAS LATER PRONOUNCED DEAD AT A LOCAL HOSPITAL. AUTOPSY PROTOCOL LISTED 'ISCHEMIC HEART DISEASE' AS THE CAUSE OF DEATH. A FEDERAL AIR SURGEON SAID THERE WAS EVIDENCE OF 'OLD MYOCARDIAL INFARCTION' AND 'HIGH PROBABILITY OF RECENT MYOCARDIAL INFARCTION.'

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.