ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 41152
Last updated: 22 May 2013
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| Date: | 23-MAR-1994 |
| Time: | 0030 |
| Type: |  Piper PA-28-180 |
| Operator: | private |
| Registration: | N3365R |
| C/n / msn: | 28-5666 |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 1 / Occupants: 1 |
| Other fatalities: | 0 |
| Airplane damage: | Written off (damaged beyond repair) |
| Location: | Chesterfield, MO -
 United States of America
|
| Phase: | Take off |
| Nature: | Private |
| Departure airport: | |
WITNESSES OBSERVED THE AIRPLANE TAXIING AT A HIGH SPEED TOWARD THE RUNWAY, AND SHORTLY THEREAFTER SAW THE AIRPLANE DIVING VERTICALLY AT FULL POWER TOWARD THE RUNWAY. THE PILOT WAS A LOCAL TV METEOROLOGIST AND WEATHERCASTER. ACCORDING TO COWORKERS, HE HAD BEEN DEPRESSED OVER RECENT MEDIA ACCOUNTS OF HIS ALLEGED EXTRAMARITAL AFFAIR AND HARASSMENT OF A LOCAL WOMAN WHO HAD RECENTLY OBTAINED A COURT ORDER OF PROTECTION AGAINST HIM. COWORKERS ALSO SAID THAT THE PILOT HAD TOLD THEM HE HAD ATTEMPTED SUICIDE TWICE IN THE LAST FEW DAYS. ONE OF THOSE ATTEMPTS WAS REPORTEDLY WHILE HE WAS FLYING HIS AIRPLANE. INVESTIGATION OF THE WRECKAGE DISCLOSED NO EVIDENCE OF PREIMPACT MECHANICAL ANOMALY. POSTMORTEM EXAMINATION OF THE PILOT REVEALED NO EVIDENCE OF INCAPACITATION. CAUSE: suicide by the pilot.
Sources:
NTSB: http://www.ntsb.gov/ntsb/brief.asp?ev_id=20001206X00858
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 24-Oct-2008 10:30 | ASN archive | Added |
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