Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Jellico, Tennessee 37762
Wednesday, October 9, 2002 10:57 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot was conducting an instrument flight when he became incapacitated, resulting in an in-flight loss of control and collision with the ground. Examination of the airplane revealed there was no evidence of a mechanical malfunction. Review of the pilot's medical history revealed the pilot had coronary artery bypass surgery on January 17, 2001. The pilot did not inform the FAA of the change in his medical condition. The pilot applied for another medical certificate on August 6, 2002. The certificate was not issued by the medical examiner and was referred to the FAA for further evaluation.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's incapacitation in flight due to a heart attack resulting in an in-flight loss of control, and collision with terrain. A factor was the pilot acting as a pilot-in-command with a known medical grounding condition.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 10/9/2002
Event Day of the Week Wednesday
Time of Event 1057
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City Jellico
Event State TENNESSEE
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 37762
Event Date Year 2002
Event Date Month 10
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 363303N
Event Location Longitude 0840525W
Event Location Airport --
Event Location Nearest Airport ID --
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Full
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1053 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 150
Weather Observation Facility ID OQT
Elevation of weather observation facility 909
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 32
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 2100
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions --
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Broken
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 7
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 18
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 15
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) --
Variable Wind Indicator --
Wind Speed (knots) --
Wind Velocity Indicator Calm
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.21
Density Altitude (feet) 1211
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Fatal
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal 1
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 14149
NTSB Notification Source FAA Communication Center
NTSB Notification Date Oct 9 2002 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1255
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Nov 25 2003 11:36AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\MONR
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Nashville FSDO

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N5350E
NTSB Number ATL03FA002
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed IFR
Flight plan Was Activated? Yes
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire Ground
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Beech
Aircraft Model K35
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number D-5833
Certified Max Gross Weight 2950
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 4
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Apr 11 2002 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 23
Airframe Hours 2998
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Stanley L. Cupp
Aircraft Owner Street Address 100 Pleasant View Avenue
Aircraft Owner City Roscommon
Aircraft Owner State MI
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 48653
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name --
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address --
Operator City --
Operator State --
Operator Country --
Operator Zip code --
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? --
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code HTL
Departure City Houghton Lake
Departure State MI
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 802
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code DKX
Destination City Knoxville
Destination State TN
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Maneuvering
Report sent to ICAO? No
Evacuation occurred No
Date of most recent change to record Aug 6 2003 12:01PM
User who most recently changed record POWP
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location --
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --