Primary finding
Probable cause
The pilot died by suicide.
Investigator assessment
Analysis narrative
The pilot took off and conducted one circuit of the traffic pattern at the tower-controlled airport. He then advised the tower controller that he would no longer follow their instructions and would be discontinuing radio communication and departing the area to the east. Automatic Dependent Surveillance – Broadcast (ADS-B) data showed the airplane continued to the east about 75 miles before turning north and travelling about 40 miles. The airplane then turned to the northwest. While on the northwest track the airplane climbed to about 11,000 ft. msl and then abruptly began a descent which continued until the track data was lost. The descent rate during the final minute of the flight was about 3,700 feet per minute. The accident site was located about 0.4 miles from the final data point and on a continuation of the final course. The data did not show any evasive maneuvers or an attempt to arrest the descent. The airplane, which impacted an open field, was destroyed and the pilot received fatal injuries. According to the flight school operator of the airplane, the pilot was a student at the flight school, but had not scheduled the airplane and was not authorized to use the airplane on the night of the accident flight. The Lamar County Sheriff’s Office records showed that a concerned citizen called first responders to report that the pilot had left a suicide note. An autopsy of the pilot was performed by the Dallas County Office of the Medical Examiner, Dallas, Texas. The autopsy report listed the cause of death as blunt force trauma, and the manner of death as suicide.