Incident Overview
The pilot of a Cessna 172 contacted the tower approximately eight minutes before the crash, reporting difficulty with aileron control. The pilot stated he would return to the field and attempt a landing. The aircraft touched down in a grassy area near the runway, then bounced back into the air about five times before the right wing contacted the ground.
Investigation
Both local police and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) investigated the possibility that the crash was intentional. The pilot, who was under psychological pressure at the time of the flight, became the subject of scrutiny.
Legal Outcome
As a result of the accident, the pilot was later indicted by a grand jury for malicious destruction of property. Prior to the indictment, the FAA issued an emergency revocation of the pilot's license.