An 81-year-old pilot may have become incapacitated during takeoff, leading to a fatal crash just seconds into the flight, according to a report from the Air Accidents Investigations Branch (AAIB). The pilot, who has not been named, died on October 27 of last year at Portmoak Airfield in Kinross, Scotland.
The Jodel D18 ultralight aircraft, built in 1988 and with 1,888 flying hours, showed no mechanical defects. The AAIB report concluded that the pilot, who had a history of heart attacks and Type 2 diabetes, might have experienced partial or complete physical incapacitation during the takeoff ground roll. Shortly after takeoff, the aircraft made a sharp right turn before entering a descending spiral and crashing into a field approximately 95 meters from the wreckage where the pilot was found.
Despite the conclusion of incapacitation, a post-mortem examination did not identify an obvious cause. The pathologist noted the pilot's history of heart disease and suggested that a cardiac arrhythmia was a possibility in the absence of other explanations. The report further elaborated that incapacitation can be complete or partial, affecting a pilot's ability to fully control an aircraft. Given the lack of mechanical failure, the report stated it is possible the pilot was incapacitated to some degree, preventing him from stopping the aircraft or maintaining directional control either before or after takeoff.