Piper J3 | N98416

The DTSB determines the Probable Cause of this accident to be an in flight medical incapacitation, as the accident pilot was in communication with another aircraft that was flying with the accident pilot to the same location. All was normal until the aircraft began a descending right hand turn that both tightened and steepened until impact. The accident aircraft was known to have a nose down and right turning tendency which required constant slight aft and left control stick pressure to maintain level flight. The 77 year old accident pilot likely lost consciousness in flight due to an unknown medical condition.

The DTSB recommends that all pilots of all aircraft constantly self assess their medical condition and propensity to in flight incapacitation, and avoid solo flight when age and medical conditions are present that make incapacitation possible.