# Accident 20240411005409A: Piper PA-28-161, West Lafayette, IN, April 11, 2024

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: April 11, 2024, 20:21 local time
- Place: West Lafayette, IN
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Maneuver
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 40.5000° N, 87.0333° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.5000&lon=-87.0333&mi=10
- Aircraft: N564PU, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N564PU) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-28-161 (registry code 7102803, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-161) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming 0-320 series (registry code 41508, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28-161
- Reported engine: LYCOMING 0-320 SERIES
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 1
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot, private pilot, student
- Pilot flight hours: 201 total, 137 in this make and model, 11 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN24LA157](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN24LA157) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20240411005409A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

ON APRIL 11, 2024, AT APPROXIMATELY 19:33 EDT, A PIPER AIRCRAFT, MODEL P28A, DEPARTED THE ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ AIRPORT (KLAF) IN WEST LAFAYETTE, INDIANA.  THE FLIGHT WAS CONDUCTED UNDER 14 CFR PART 91 OPERATING RULES. AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL TOWER COMMUNICATIONS SHOWS THE AIRCRAFT CONDUCTED TAKE OFF AND LANDINGS BEFORE PROCEEDING TO CIRCLE THE ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ CAMPUS. THE AIRCRAFT WAS CLEARED TO DEPART THE CLASS D AIRSPACE NORTH OF KLAF AT 20:01 LOCAL.

ADS-B DATA SHOWS THE AIRCRAFT MANEUVERING APPROXIMATELY 8 NM NORTHWEST OF KLAF. ADS-B DATA AT THE LAST KNOW POSITION HAD A GROUND SPEED OF 145 KNOTS AND A VERTICAL DESCENT RATE OF -7296' PER MINUTE AT AN ALTITUDE OF 1175' MEAN SEA LEVEL. THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTED LEVEL TERRAIN APPROXIMATELY 2000' SOUTH OF THE INTERSECTION OF WEST 750 NORTH AND NORTH 750 WEST IN WEST LAFAYETTE, INDIANA. THE AIRCRAFT WAS DESTROYED AND THE PILOT SUSTAINED FATAL INJURIES AS THE SOLE OCCUPANT.

^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB CEN24LA157](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN24LA157), Apr 12, 2024: Piper PA-28-161 (N564PU), Montmorenci, IN, destroyed, 1 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot’s intentional flight into terrain as an act of suicide.

## Other reports on N564PU (1)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Incident 20100308028919I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20100308028919I), Mar 8, 2010: Piper PA-28-161 (N564PU), Monticello, IN, Minor damage. Aircraft landed at White County Airport (mcx) at approximately 1930 locally on 03/08/2010. During landing rollout the aircraft struck a deer with the leading…

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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