CEN23LA093

The airplane, rented by the pilot, departed on a reported short cross-country flight. Flight track data showed that after takeoff, the airplane climbed to an altitude of about 1,000 ft above ground level and traveled southeast. Near the end of the flight, the airplane performed a 360° turn and began a rapid descent. The highly fragmented wreckage was located adjacent to a railroad track in a residential area. The airplane damage was consistent with a high angle and high energy impact with terrain. Examination of the airplane revealed no preimpact mechanical deficiencies that would have precluded normal operation of the airplane. Following a death investigation, the coroner classified the manner of death as a suicide.

On January 24, 2023, about 1539 eastern standard time, a Cirrus SR20 airplane, N99EC, was destroyed when it was involved in an accident near Indianapolis, Indiana. The pilot sustained fatal injuries. The airplane was being operated as a Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. According to automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast data (ADS-B), the airplane departed the Indianapolis Executive Airport, Indianapolis, Indiana, about 1526. After takeoff, the airplane turned left, climbed to about 1,000 ft above ground level, and continued to the southeast past downtown Indianapolis. South of downtown and near the end of the data, the airplane made a 360° left turn and began a rapid descent (see Figure 1.). A residential surveillance camera captured the impact sequence and showed the airplane impact in a nose and right-wing low attitude. There were no witnesses to the accident. Figure 1. Airplane’s ADS-B flight track The airplane wreckage was located adjacent to a single railroad track and several residential homes. The initial impact point, which was consistent with the propeller, engine, forward fuselage, and both wings, was located about 20 ft from the main wreckage. The initial impact contained the propeller blades and fragmented sections of the forward fuselage. Fragmented sections of the fuselage, wings, and empennage were found forward of the main wreckage. The airplane damage was consistent with a high angle and high energy impact with terrain. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed no mechanical malfunctions that would have precluded normal operations. An autopsy of the pilot was performed by the Marion County Coroner’s Office, Indianapolis, Indiana. The autopsy report listed the cause of death as blunt force trauma, and the manner of death as suicide. The Federal Aviation Administration Forensic Sciences Laboratory performed toxicology testing on specimens from the pilot. Testing was negative for ethanol and carbon monoxide. An unspecified level of Fentanyl was detected in the blood (cavity).