On October 3, 2000, a Piper PA-44-180 (registration N294ND) was involved in an aviation accident near Rapid City, SD. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: Intentional pitch-up and nose-down maneuvers resulting in collision with the runway, with the manner of death determined as suicide. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
An airplane was destroyed after intentional pitch-up and nose-down maneuvers led to collision with the runway. The Pennington County Sheriff's Office determined the pilot's death was a suicide.
Incident Details
The airplane was destroyed during an in-flight collision with terrain following a sequence of intentional maneuvers. According to the investigation, the pilot executed an intentional pitch-up maneuver approximately at mid-field, climbing to an altitude of 1,000 feet above ground level. This was followed by an intentional nose-down maneuver, which resulted in the airplane colliding with the runway.
Investigation
The Pennington County Sheriff's Office prepared an Investigation Report addressing the incident. In that report, the pilot's cause of death was stated as "blunt force trauma due to an airplane crash with the manner of death as suicide." No other details regarding the aircraft type, registration, operator, or specifics of the location were provided in the available source material.
The investigation did not elaborate on any additional factors or circumstances surrounding the intentional maneuvers.
Probable cause
Intentional pitch-up and nose-down maneuvers resulting in collision with the runway, with the manner of death determined as suicide.