What happened
On January 24, 2023, at approximately 15:39 EST, a Cirrus SR20, registration N99EC, crashed near Indianapolis, Indiana. The aircraft departed Indianapolis Executive Airport at approximately 15:26 for a short cross-country flight under Part 91 regulations.
ADS-B data indicates that after takeoff, the aircraft climbed to roughly 1,000 feet above ground level and flew southeast, passing downtown Indianapolis. Near the end of the recorded flight track, the aircraft performed a 360-degree left turn and entered a rapid descent. A residential surveillance camera recorded the aircraft impacting the ground in a nose-low and right-wing-low attitude. There were no witnesses to the event.
The wreckage was located near a railroad track and several homes. The impact site included fragments of the propeller, engine, forward fuselage, and wings, located approximately 20 feet from the main wreckage. The damage to the aircraft was consistent with a high-energy, high-angle impact with the terrain.
The investigation
Post-accident examination of the aircraft found no mechanical malfunctions that would have prevented normal operation.
An autopsy conducted by the Marion County Coroner’s Office determined the cause of death was blunt force trauma. The manner of death was classified as suicide. Toxicology testing performed by the FAA Forensic Sciences Laboratory found no ethanol or carbon monoxide, but detected an unspecified level of fentanyl in the pilot's blood.