Pilot Debrief

ESKILDSEN STEEN SKYBOLT near Easton, MN — 2013-05-06

Final reportCEN13LA256
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Date
2013-05-06
Location
Easton, MN, USA
Aircraft
ESKILDSEN STEEN SKYBOLT
Registration
N7KE
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
Fatal
Fatalities
1
Phase of flight
Maneuvering

Probable cause

The pilot's medical incapacitation due to an acute cardiac event after performing aerobatic maneuvers.

NTSB narrative

The pilot performed aerobatic maneuvers for about 5 minutes near a friend's farm and then departed the area. About a minute later, the airplane reappeared and began a left bank that became a spiral descent until ground impact. An examination of the airplane revealed no preimpact anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. The autopsy revealed that the pilot had severe coronary artery stenosis in the proximal left anterior descending coronary artery. According to the pilot's wife, although he had symptoms that may have been related to this disease, he had not received medical attention for them, so the disease was undiagnosed. She added that he had experienced dizziness while previously flying aerobatic maneuvers. In addition, both the pilot's father and grandfather experienced premature sudden cardiac death, which doubled the his risk of having sudden cardiac death. The autopsy was unable to determine whether an acute cardiac event occurred at the time of the accident. However, based on the pilot's recent medical symptoms, severe fixed coronary artery stenosis, and family history of sudden cardiac death and the additional physiologic stress of performing aerobatics, it is likely that the pilot became incapacitated due to an acute cardiac event and lost control of the airplane.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Human factors
First missed decision gate
Pilot could have refrained from aerobatic maneuvers given prior health issues.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • ADS-B / radar
  • Photos
  • 7 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents7

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