Incident Overview
During a scheduled instructional flight, a private pilot and a certified flight instructor (CFI) were aboard the aircraft. The private pilot had stated that he underwent an ear operation and wanted to assess how his ears would feel at altitude before obtaining an FAA medical certificate. He also mentioned that he was considering aerial photography and wished to evaluate visibility from the airplane during turns.
Flight Details
The airplane climbed to an altitude of 9,500 feet mean sea level. At that altitude, the private pilot opened the left window, stated his intention to check his ears, and requested that the CFI take control of the aircraft. The private pilot subsequently made two requests for the CFI to increase the angle of bank. The CFI complied, increasing the turn to 45 degrees of bank and initiating a descent rate of 300 to 500 feet per minute.
The CFI then heard a noise that sounded like a seat belt striking the side of the airplane. Looking to his left, the CFI observed the private pilot exiting the aircraft. The CFI noticed that the #1 radio was already tuned to 121.5 MHz, the emergency frequency. The CFI notified air traffic control that the private pilot had exited the airplane and later landed the aircraft without incident.
Post-Incident Examination
An examination of the aircraft’s restraint system and the left cabin door revealed no discrepancies. Statements and evidence obtained from friends and co-workers of the private pilot indicated that he was undergoing ongoing treatment for depression and had recently expressed an intent to take his own life by using an aircraft. A note found in the private pilot’s vehicle stated, in part: "I'm tired of being depressed. I've been this way for almost 2 months. I'm about ready to do anything to stop feeling this way."