The private pilot and a passenger departed on a flight to an airstrip about 40 nautical miles away.
When they failed to return as scheduled, family members notified law enforcement, and the wreckage was subsequently located in an area of snow-covered, rising terrain near Aniak, Alaska. Both the pilot and passenger were killed in the crash.
Post-accident examination of the wreckage revealed no mechanical malfunctions or anomalies that would have precluded normal operation.
Following a death investigation, the State Medical Examiner classified the manner of death as a suicide.
Probable cause: The pilot’s intentional flight of the airplane into terrain in an act of suicide.
NTSB Identification: ANC17FA012
This December 2016 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.
I just could not believe this, so I read the accident report, more questions than answers!! I believe someone fail down on the job.
There’s a lot more to this story, I wonder why this was printed. Why did the state medical examiner think it was murder/suicide? Why can’t I believe this? Please tell us the whole story!!!
I did a web search on it and followed every link available including the Full Narrative from the NTSB and they all had the same conclusion but no additional information. It is a very damning conclusion to say the pilot commited suicide taking a passenger along with him. If they were trying to save the family the negative reactions caused by putting this negative evidence out in the public domain but all it really does is create an air of mystery and coverup.If the NTSB was to claim any other cause they would provide some evidence so why do they just stop at saying that is what the State Medical Examiner claimed.
The end result is there is no further information out there and since this is apparently a suicide there is not much to be gained from it. You could conclude to have your depression treated (if you are depressed) but then they will probably revoke your medical and that will ground you except for LSA.
Suicide with a passenger on board when he could do it quietly in alone … Hmmm
And what about the passenger? Why is nothing said about him? How is it known that he did not attack or distract the pilot?
Too many unanswered questions.
Suicide or not, how does this offer any useful information for GAN readers to avoid future crashes?
Let’s say it was a fact that it was suicide. Then it would be considered murder suicide as he had a passenger.
And why is an otherwise unexplained crash a suicide??? I just can’t buy that one without knowing what information lead to that conclusion or was the ME just an idiot and assumed that any death like that must be suicide.