Piper PA-23-160 N4319P

Summary

On 10 November 2005 at about 02:59 local time, a Piper PA-23-160 registered N4319P was involved in an accident near Bloomington, Illinois, United States. One person was on board and one died. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

10 November 2005 at 02:59

Classification

Accident

Location

Bloomington, Illinois, United States

Nearest airport

Central Illinois Regional Airp (BMI)

Coordinates

40.4772, -88.9158

Aircraft

Piper PA-23-160

Registration

N4319P

Category

Airplane

Engines

2

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Peoria → Smithfield

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Night

NTSB number

CHI06FA030

1 person died.

The aircraft control not possible by the pilot during a visual approach to the runway due to the physical impairment of the pilot.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The airplane impacted terrain during a night visual approach to an airport following a partial loss of right engine power that occurred during cruise flight. There was no emergency declared by the pilot who initially elected to divert to the airport of last departure which was 37 nautical miles west of the accident airport. Air traffic control then informed the pilot the location of the closer accident airport. Examination of the wreckage and component testing did not reveal any mechanical problems that would have precipitated a partial loss of right engine power. During the approach, the pilot made three exclamations over tower frequency accompanied by heavy breathing. The pilot's autopsy revealed evidence that a tear in the aorta (aortic dissection) had occurred prior to the accident and resulted in the rapid accumulation of blood around the heart, substantially impairing heart function and leading to impairment or incapacitation. This type of tear in the aorta typically presents with a sudden onset of severe pain, and there is no testing for aortic dissection that would be routinely performed in the absence of such pain. The condition would most likely have been fatal regardless of the circumstances under which it occurred.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.