Witnesses reported observing the pilot taxi the airplane from inside his hangar and depart. For several minutes, the Piper PA 28 maneuvered at a low altitude and high airspeed.
Witnesses then observed the airplane make a steep bank turn, descend, and hit terrain about five miles east of the airport in Brighton, Colo.
The pilot’s wife had reported to local law enforcement that she believed he had committed suicide.
The pilot’s wife reported that she had recently informed him that she wanted a divorce and was purchasing another home.
She added that, about five years earlier, the pilot had told her that if she ever left him, he would fly his airplane into the ground and kill himself.
Although the wreckage was significantly fragmented, no evidence of any preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures of the airframe or engine were noted that would have precluded normal operation.
The medical examiner determined that the pilot’s manner of death was “suicide.”
The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause as the pilot’s intentional descent into the terrain.
NTSB Identification: CEN15FA101
This January 2015 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.
Sad.
Nuf said
Very much too bad. From the docket report it looks like some long term issues well beyond the moment affected this pilot and family dynamic.
The docket says the wife reported to the investigating Sheriff’s Deputy that her husband “…was drinking heavily and that he had gambling debts. She also stated that … [her husband] spent a considerable amount of time working on his plane. He rarely spent time with the family and he contributed very little to the household expenses…”
What did you accomplish with you comment. This is tragic enough for the family without someone airing dirty laundry. Just my opinion.
Well, the pilot is no longer here to defend himself, so she can say what she likes.
Anyone who has been through a divorce knows that people say what the need to get what they want.
Gambling and heavy drinking is completely contradictory to spending a lot of time working on his plane.
What is the point of this accident report? Are people learning from it? Come on GA news, you can do better.
Agree
Sorry for the airplane
There are countless pilots, N-1, who decided today was not the day to be a snark.