CESSNA 150

Full Narrative

On October 18, 2024, at 1826 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 150L airplane, N11519, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Gainesville, Georgia. The pilot became incapacitated while in flight and later died. The passenger sustained minor injuries. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight.
Flight track data provided by the FAA indicated that the airplane departed Gwinnett County Airport (LZU), Lawrenceville, Georgia, at 1802 and proceeded toward Lee Gilmer Memorial Airport (GVL), Gainesville, Georgia.
Shortly after the pilot announced his intention to land at GVL on the airport’s common traffic advisory frequency (CTAF), the passenger reported that the pilot became unresponsive. Witnesses reported that she transmitted “emergency, emergency” on the CTAF. Although other pilots responded and offered assistance, she made no additional transmissions. The passenger took control of the airplane, and made three unsuccessful landing attempts before landing on the fourth attempt at 1826 (see figure). The passenger, who had no previous flight experience, stated that she could see the airport when she took control of the airplane. The final flight track data point showed the airplane about 250 ft southwest of the runway 05 threshold on a northeasterly track at a ground speed of 108 knots.

Figure: FAA flight track data showing the passenger’s landing attempts at Lee Gilmer Memorial Airport (North is up).
Airport CCTV footage showed that the airplane landed on its nose landing gear, which collapsed, and the nose of the airplane impacted and slid along the runway. The pilot and passenger were subsequently met by witnesses who extinguished a small fire near the forward portion of the airplane. First responders later arrived and transported the pilot to a local hospital, where he died two days later.
Examination of the airplane by an FAA inspector revealed substantial damage to the lower forward fuselage.
The pilot’s FAA medical certification file documented a medical history of diabetes, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol, all treated with medication. The pilot also had coronary artery disease and experienced a heart attack in 2009 that required quadruple coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery for severe multivessel disease. His medical history also included ischemic cardiomyopathy and atrial fibrillation treated with medication for heart rate control and stroke risk reduction.
The pilot completed a BasicMed course on March 22, 2022, and a BasicMed comprehensive medical examination checklist (CMEC) on March 24, 2022. The pilot subsequently completed another BasicMed course on March 4, 2024, and reported completing a BasicMed CMEC on March 3, 2024. The investigation found no evidence that the pilot completed the reported 2024 CMEC other than his self-report. The 2022 CMEC remained within its 48-month validity period as of the accident date.
When EMS first arrived, the pilot was in cardiac arrest. EMS initiated cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and transported the pilot to a local hospital. After arriving at the hospital, the pilot regained a pulse but remained critically ill following his cardiac arrest. The pilot died at the hospital two days after the accident. Hospital records characterized the pilot’s in-flight incapacitation event as a ventricular fibrillation cardiac arrest. An autopsy was not performed.
Toxicological testing by the FAA Forensic Sciences Laboratory of the pilot’s hospital admission specimens detected metformin, carvedilol, and atorvastatin in blood. These medications are not typically impairing and were consistent with the pilot’s medications documented in the reviewed records. A hospital drug screen of a urine specimen collected on October 20, 2024, detected one drug class that could be attributed to medication administered to the pilot during his postaccident medical care.