NYC07LA177 · Beech BE-23

The airplane crashed in a wooded area and the pilot was fatally injured. There were no witnesses to the actual accident. Day, visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. Examination of the propeller revealed little or no chordwise damage and the blades were bent aft, consistent with little or no rotation at impact. Evidence of some water contamination and corrosion was noted in the fuel sump, fuel boost pump, and carburetor, but the investigation could not determine if this led to a loss of engine power. Additionally, the fuel selector valve was found midway between the left and right tanks, but a determination could not be made if this was done prior to impact, or if it would have led to a loss of engine power. The pilot had not obtained a Federal Aviation Administration medical certificate since 1984, and his medical history included diabetes, congestive heart failure, multiple coronary stents, and the emplacement of a defibrillator/pacemaker. His serious heart disease would have put him at high risk of impairment, incapacitation, or distraction. Toxicology testing revealed the presence of gabapentin and carvedilol in the blood and urine. Gabapentin, an antiseizure medication that is also used to treat chronic pain, has been shown to have some adverse psychomotor effects. Despite the pilot's medical history and toxicology, the investigation could not positively determine whether the pilot was impaired at the time of the accident. Examination of the airplane, airplane systems, engine, and propeller showed no evidence of precrash mechanical failure or malfunction.

Verbatim NTSB analysis and probable cause from the NTSB dataset