ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 39819
Last updated: 19 June 2013
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| Date: | 02-MAR-1991 |
| Time: | 1855 |
| Type: |  Piper PA-28R-200 |
| Operator: | Gunnell Aviation |
| Registration: | N5290T |
| C/n / msn: | 28R-7235217 |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 1 / Occupants: 1 |
| Other fatalities: | 0 |
| Airplane damage: | Written off (damaged beyond repair) |
| Location: | Monterey Park, CA -
 United States of America
|
| Phase: | Manoeuvring (airshow, firefighting, ag.ops.) |
| Nature: | Private |
| Departure airport: | Santa Monica, CA (SMO) |
THE PILOT UNEXPLAINABLY QUIT WORK AND LEFT HOME TEN DAYS BEFORE THE ACCIDENT. SEVEN DAYS LATER THE PILOT RETURNED HOME AND LEFT A SUICIDE NOTE. ON THE DAY OF THE ACCIDENT POLICE OFFICERS QUESTIONED THE PILOT AND HE STATED HE LEFT THE SUICIDE NOTE TO GET REVENGE ON HIS WIFE. THE OFFICERS DID NOT DETAIN THE PILOT. THE PILOT DEPARTED THE AIRPORT IN HIS AIRPLANE AND FLEW FOR ABOUT 5 HOURS AND 20 MINUTES. WITNESSES AT THE ACCIDENT SITE REPORTED THAT THE AIRPLANE CIRCLED THE AREA AND EXECUTED AT LEAST ONE DIVING, PULL UP MANEUVER. AFTER COMPLETING THAT MANEUVER THE AIRPLANE ENTERED INTO A STRAIGHT NOSE DOWN ATTITUDE AND CRASHED INTO THE HOUSE. THERE WAS NO FIRE. THE ENGINE SOUNDED NORMAL WHILE CIRCLING THE AREA. DURING THE DESCENT THE ENGINE SOUND INCREASED TO A HIGH PITCHED WHINE UNTIL IMPACT. THE INVESTIGATION DISCLOSED NO EVIDENCE OF ANY PREEXISTING MALFUNCTIONS OR FAILURES WHICH WOULD HAVE RENDERED THE AIRPLANE INCAPABLE OF OPERATION. CAUSE: SUICIDE.
Sources:
NTSB: http://www.ntsb.gov/ntsb/brief.asp?ev_id=20001212X16611
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 24-Oct-2008 10:30 | ASN archive | Added |
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