Cirrus Design Corp SR22 N24LA accident near Tybee Island, Georgia

Probable cause

A loss of airplane control due to pilot incapacitation, which resulted in an overflight of his destination and subsequent descent into water.

NTSB analysis

The pilot was issued instrument approach instructions from air traffic control (ATC) and instructed to report over a waypoint. The pilot did not report over the waypoint and did not respond to any subsequent ATC communications.

At the request of ATC, pilots of another airplane tried to get the accident pilot’s attention but were unsuccessful. They continued alongside and watched as the airplane descended into the ocean.

The pilot had a history of heart palpitations and had a loop recorder heart monitor implanted in his left upper chest. The download of the device revealed a period of tachycardia during the time the pilot was not responding to ATC. It is likely that this cardiac event caused the pilot to be incapacitated.

Examination revealed there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation.

Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for ERA22LA220 for the full record.