Stricken Pilot Lands Safely, But Dies After Rollout

Many pilots say if they had a choice, they would like to leave this earth doing what they love. Sadly, that's exactly what may have happened to one pilot this weekend. He landed his plane safely at Riverside Municipal Airport in California on Saturday afternoon, but lost consciousness before he could taxi off the runway.

Donald Hamm  flew his Vans RV-4 from San Diego to Riverside, about 100 miles north, landing at 2:12 in the afternoon. It is believed he suffered a heart attack as he was landing. When air traffic controllers noticed that no one was getting out of the plane, an airport worker was dispatched to the aircraft.

It's a miracle that he made it to the ground," Roger Kane, airport operations specialist told the Riverside Press-Enterprise. Upon finding the pilot unconscious, he called emergency crews.

"Apparently he suffered a heart attack as he was landing. He went unconscious after he brought it in," said Riverside Fire Chief David Campos.

Donald Hamm, 75 years old, was taken to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead. The NTSB and FAA are investigating the incident.

Aero-News can only wish for Mr. Hamm, who has gone west at the conclusion of his final flight: fair skies and tailwinds.

FMI: www.ntsb.gov, www.faa.gov