What happened
On April 18, 2015, a Cessna 206H, registration N3535M, departed Redding Municipal Airport (RDD) at approximately 0830. The flight was being operated under 14 CFR part 91 as a personal flight. The weather at the time of the accident was clear with a visibility of 10 statute miles.
Radar data indicated that after takeoff, the aircraft climbed toward the east and performed an approximate 360-degree turn. Upon reaching an altitude of roughly 5,500 feet, the airplane began a straight-line descent until it impacted an open field. A witness observed the aircraft climbing before it abruptly descended straight down; the witness noted the engine sounded as if it were at full power before the engine noise slowly decelerated prior to impact.
The pilot, the sole occupant of the aircraft, sustained 1 fatal injury.
The investigation
Photographs from law enforcement and the FAA showed the aircraft impacted the ground in a nose-low attitude and was heavily fragmented. The engine had separated from the firewall and sustained heavy damage. Within the engine, the camshaft was found to be separated and bent mid-span.
During the investigation, law enforcement noted that a welfare check had been requested for the pilot because he had sent suicidal text messages to friends and family members earlier that morning. The Shasta County Coroner determined the cause of death was multiple traumatic injuries and blunt force trauma, with the manner of death being suicide. Forensic toxicology performed by the FAA's Civil Aerospace Medical Institute found no evidence of drugs, though ethanol was detected in the muscle at 24 mg/dL, though it could not be determined if this was from ingestion or postmortem production.