The student pilot departed on a local, solo instructional flight in the Cessna 172. According to the flight instructor, the student was briefed to complete three takeoffs and landings and to stay in the airport traffic pattern.
Instead, he completed one takeoff and landing and then departed the airport traffic pattern.
Witnesses reported seeing the airplane in level flight about two hours later over the ocean 20 miles from the departure airport in Elliott Key, Florida.
Two witnesses said that the airplane’s nose “pitched up” momentarily before it descended vertically at “full power.”
One witness described the sound of the engine as “wide open” and noted that it was accelerating throughout the descent.
All of the witnesses said that the airplane went “straight down” and that it did not rotate.
The student pilot was killed in the crash.
Examination of the wreckage revealed damage consistent with a vertical descent at high speed.
For the airplane to descend straight down, the forward pressure on the yoke must be increased proportionally with the increase in airspeed. If control positions remained constant, the dive would shallow out as it progressed.
The NTSB determined the probable cause as the airplane’s vertical descent into water for reasons that could not be determined because postaccident airplane examinations revealed no mechanical anomalies.
NTSB Identification: ERA14LA346
This July 2014 accident report is provided by the National Transportation Safety Board. Published as an educational tool, it is intended to help pilots learn from the misfortunes of others.
There is a woman involved somewhere in this equation. Anyone ever read or seen what happened to Captain Button – A-10 Pilot? Very sad in both accounts. My condolences to the parents.
Part of the Instructor’s job is to gauge a student’s mental aptitude for safe flight. There’s nothing in the report about the student’s possible previous display of suicidal tendencies. Anyway, had I been the “pilot” taking myself out 20 miles into the sea, I might have first treated myself to some formerly forbidden loops and rolls. Bucket list for a disturbed Skyhawk driver?
At least he was good enough not to wipe out anyone or anything else on the ground. However, it is a shame to waste a perfectly good airplane
I must agree with Richard, there must be other ways to commit
suicide, Bad example for student pilots.
Too bad he just didn’t cut his wrist or something like that instead of tearing up a perfectly good airplane and making another bad name for general aviation. I agree with Rod Beck, no Dr. Phil needed and I wonder why the NTSB didn’t put suicide as a possible cause of this accident in the accident report?
Sadly, I think this gent decided he no longer wanted to live – “Dr. Phil” not needed on this one?
I totally agree, Rod.