What happened
The incident began when the aircraft was first detected on radar while approaching the Joint Civil-Military Airport. At approximately 200 feet above ground level, the plane passed over the central area of the airfield. Air traffic control records indicate there were no radio communications with the pilot during this approach.
Following the initial pass, multiple witnesses observed the aircraft performing low-level maneuvers in the vicinity of the base. The pilot flew underneath at least one bridge and made passes near several ships and tugboats. Notably, the aircraft flew low over a specific section of the base where the pilot had previously been employed. During this segment of the flight, the pilot ejected at least one flare from the aircraft.
The final sequence of events was witnessed as the aircraft lined up directly with an abandoned fuel storage tank located on the property. The plane then impacted the side of the structure. Post-impact examination revealed that both engines were still running at the time of the crash, and there were no known mechanical issues or reported problems with the aircraft prior to the impact.
Findings
The medical examiner officially ruled the death as a suicide. The deliberate nature of the flight path, the targeting of specific locations significant to the pilot's history, and the lack of distress signals support this conclusion.