MOONEY M20E near Kerrville, TX — 2022-03-31

Probable cause

The pilot’s sudden cardiac event, which resulted in incapacitation, uncontrolled taxi after landing, and collision with a stationary parked airplane.

NTSB narrative

After a local flight, the airplane landed, and a witness saw the airplane taxi over a grass-covered area and then onto the ramp at a higher-than-normal speed. The airplane struck a parked airplane, and the left wing became wedged underneath the empennage of the parked airplane. Airport personnel responded and discovered that the pilot was slumped over the flight controls and unresponsive. Emergency responders attempted CPR, but the pilot did not recover and was transported to a hospital where he was declared deceased. The airplane’s left wing sustained substantial damage. Examination of the airplane’s flight control, brake systems, and related systems did not reveal any mechanical anomalies that would have precluded normal operations. The pilot’s cause of death was atherosclerotic and hypertensive cardiovascular disease in association with obesity; the manner of death was reported as natural. There was significant cardiovascular disease identified by the autopsy without evidence of significant trauma. His cardiovascular conditions placed him at increased risk for a sudden cardiac event. Given the medical findings and the circumstances of this accident, it is likely that the pilot’s incapacitation from a sudden cardiac event caused the accident.

Analysis

Primary failure mode

Human factors

First missed decision gate

Pilot could have chosen to not taxi at high speed after landing.

NTSB coding

• Medical event · Taxi-from runway
• Impairment / Incapacitation

Evidence available

• Photos
• 6 docket documents

Docket documents6

• MEMORANDUM FOR THE RECORD SUMMARY OF INFORMATION FROM ON-SCENE FAA INSPECTOR CEN22LA164form
• MEMORANDUM FOR THE RECORD SUMMARY OF INFORMATION PROVIDED BY THE PILOT'S SPOUSE CEN222LA164form
• MEMORANDUM FOR THE RECORD EYEWITNESS STATEMENT CEN22LA164interview
• PHOTO ARRAY CEN22LA164photos
• NTSB MEDICAL FACTUAL REPORT CEN22LA164report
• TOXICOLOGY REPORT CEN22LA164report