Cessna 150M N9172U

Summary

On 27 February 2013 at about 19:30 local time, a Cessna 150M registered N9172U, operated by Link Carl D, was involved in an accident near Deming, New Mexico, 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

27 February 2013 at 19:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Deming, New Mexico, United States

Coordinates

32.4375, -107.6239

Aircraft

Cessna 150M

Registration

N9172U

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Link Carl D

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Belen → El Paso

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN13LA179

1 person died.

The pilot's physical incapacitation, including loss of vision, which led to a loss of control and the subsequent in-flight breakup of the airplane.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

During the flight, the pilot reported that he was “in trouble,” experiencing severe pain, and losing his eyesight. Radar contact was lost shortly afterward. The 78-year-old pilot had been issued a limited thirdclass airman medical certificate due to elevated blood pressure. Toxicology testing revealed the presence of irbesartan, which is used mainly for treating hypertension. Although the cause of death was attributed to blunt force trauma, the heart exhibited significant preexisting coronary artery disease with up to 75 percent occlusion in a number of vessels. Wreckage distribution was consistent with an inflight breakup. Therefore, the evidence is consistent with the pilot most likely suffering an acute coronary syndrome, which incapacitated him and caused him to lose control of the airplane. During the loss of control, the airframe was overstressed, which caused it to break up in flight.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.