Beechcraft B200 N559DW

Summary

On 12 April 2009 at about 18:05 local time, a Beechcraft B200 registered N559DW, operated by White Equipment Leasing LLC, was involved in an incident near Fort Myers, Florida, United States. 5 people were on board and one died. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

12 April 2009 at 18:05

Classification

Incident

Location

Fort Myers, Florida, United States

Nearest airport

Southwest Florida Int'l (RSW)

Coordinates

26.5361, -81.7553

Aircraft

Beechcraft B200

Registration

N559DW

Category

Airplane

Engines

2

Operator

White Equipment Leasing LLC

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Marco Island → Jackson

Aircraft damage

Not recorded

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ERA09IA240

1 person died.

The pilot’s abnormal heart rhythm resulting in incapacitation.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

Shortly after takeoff during the incident flight, the pilot had an abnormal heart rhythm and was incapacitated. The passenger took control of the airplane and with assistance from several FAA air traffic control personnel, was provided information concerning operation of the airplane and was vectored to a nearby airport where he landed uneventfully. The pilot had a history, known to the FAA, of a previous heart attack and known coronary artery disease, treated with angioplasty and stent placement. He underwent comprehensive cardiovascular evaluation following this treatment, including a stress test with nuclear medicine imaging and a repeat cardiac catheterization. This testing revealed evidence of the previous heart attack, but no other areas of the heart with poor blood flow, and good heart function. On the basis of these studies, a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) cardiology consultant indicated that the pilot was “qualified for Special Issuance Limited 2nd Class certification,” and the pilot subsequently received an Authorization for such certification. The pilot was noted to have an abnormal heart rhythm during resuscitation efforts and died. The autopsy report noted coronary artery disease essentially identical to the pilot’s cardiac catheterization findings, and there was no noted evidence of sudden clot formation. The autopsy report noted a thickening of the main heart chamber, which, in combination with the pilot’s coronary artery disease, would have increased the risk for sudden cardiac death in this pilot. The cardiovascular testing performed on the pilot prior to his most recent medical certification did not reveal any evidence of this thickening.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.