Loss of Control in Flight · NTSB CEN22FA017
PIPER AIRCRAFT INC PA-28-181 — Buxton, ND
| Date | October 19, 2021 |
| Location | Buxton, ND |
| Aircraft | PIPER AIRCRAFT INC PA-28-181 |
| Purpose of flight | Instructional |
| Conditions | Night/Dark · Visual Meteorological Cond |
| Phase / occurrence | Enroute Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) |
| Pilot age | 19 |
| Pilot total time | 123 hrs · Low time |
| Time in type | 123 hrs |
| Fatalities | 1 |
Probable cause
The pilot’s intentional flight into terrain as an act of suicide.
NTSB findings
- Personnel issues-Miscellaneous-Intentional act-Suicide-Pilot
What happened
The pilot departed on a night cross-country flight. Flight track data showed that, after takeoff, the airplane climbed to an altitude of about 3,700 ft mean sea level. About 30 miles from the departure airport, the airplane turned left about 180° and began a rapid descent. The wreckage was located in a plowed, soft dirt field. Examination revealed no preimpact mechanical deficiencies that would have precluded normal operation of the airplane. Following a death investigation, the state medical examiner classified the manner of death as a suicide.