ERA26LA005

The pilot’s sudden incapacitation by an episode of abnormal heartbeat due to heart disease during a takeoff attempt, which resulted in a loss of directional control and runway excursion.

The pilot of the tailwheel-equipped airplane was departing from a turf runway. The pilot recalled advancing the throttle for takeoff, but lost consciousness and could not recall anything that occurred after that point until a bystander helped him from the wreckage of the airplane. The airplane had impacted trees off the side of the runway, resulting in substantial damage to the wings and fuselage. After the accident, the pilot and a mechanic examined the airplane and found no evidence of any mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. A postaccident review of the pilot’s FAA medical certification history and his postaccident medical care records confirmed that the pilot had likely been incapacitated by an episode of abnormal heartbeat due to heart disease. At the time of the accident, the pilot did not hold current FAA medical certification. Although he had completed some requirements for BasicMed, his known medical history, which included multiple cardiovascular conditions, disqualified him from legally operating under BasicMed.

On October 4, 2025, about 1645 eastern daylight time, a Bellanca 7GCBC, N289PS, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Reedville, Virginia. The pilot sustained minor injuries. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The pilot of the tailwheel-equipped airplane was departing from a turf runway. The pilot recalled advancing the throttle for takeoff and the airplane traveling down the runway, but could not recall anything that occurred after that point until a bystander helped him from the wreckage of the airplane. The airplane had impacted trees off the side of the runway, resulting in substantial damage to the wings and fuselage. The day after the accident, the pilot and a mechanic examined the airplane and found no evidence of any mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. Several days later, the pilot reported that he had fainted during the takeoff attempt and that he was in the hospital for testing to try to determine why he may have lost consciousness. An NTSB medical officer reviewed the pilot’s FAA medical certification history and his postaccident medical care records. According to those records, 3 days after the accident, the pilot presented for medical care and was hospitalized for evaluation of symptoms, including a sudden loss of consciousness episode that he reported had occurred without warning a few seconds into the accident flight. Hospital evaluation revealed worsened heart disease requiring intervention. Medical specialists attributed the pilot’s reported loss of consciousness during the accident flight to an episode of abnormal heartbeat related to his underlying heart disease. At the time of the accident, the 71-year-old pilot did not hold a current FAA medical certification. Although he had completed some requirements for BasicMed, his known medical history included multiple cardiovascular conditions. These conditions would have required at least one FAA Special Issuance of medical certification before the pilot legally could have operated under BasicMed provisions. According to correspondence between NTSB and FAA staff, the pilot had no Special Issuance history.