# NTSB CEN24LA099: Textron 172S, N23107, Direct, TX, January 25, 2024 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: January 24, 2024, 20:15 local (Jan 25, 2024, 02:15 UTC) - Place: Direct, TX - Coordinates: 33.840028, -95.863139 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.8400&lon=-95.8631&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Maneuvering: Security/criminal event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/350) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 1 fatal - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA North Texas FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 193707 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN24LA099 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/193707/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=193707 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN24LA099 ## Probable cause The pilot died by suicide. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Intentional act: suicide](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02051015): Personnel issues › Miscellaneous · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Textron 172S, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02051015/cases.md?model=2072449), [All aircraft, 23 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02051015/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Maneuvering: Security/criminal event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/350) (defining event); cases with it: [Textron 172S, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/350/sequence.md?model=2072449), [All aircraft, 27 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/350/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot took off and conducted one circuit of the traffic pattern at the tower-controlled airport. He then advised the tower controller that he would no longer follow their instructions and would be discontinuing radio communication and departing the area to the east. Automatic Dependent Surveillance – Broadcast (ADS-B) data showed the airplane continued to the east about 75 miles before turning north and travelling about 40 miles. The airplane then turned to the northwest. While on the northwest track the airplane climbed to about 11,000 ft. msl and then abruptly began a descent which continued until the track data was lost. The descent rate during the final minute of the flight was about 3,700 feet per minute. The accident site was located about 0.4 miles from the final data point and on a continuation of the final course. The data did not show any evasive maneuvers or an attempt to arrest the descent. The airplane, which impacted an open field, was destroyed and the pilot received fatal injuries. According to the flight school operator of the airplane, the pilot was a student at the flight school, but had not scheduled the airplane and was not authorized to use the airplane on the night of the accident flight. The Lamar County Sheriff’s Office records showed that a concerned citizen called first responders to report that the pilot had left a suicide note. An autopsy of the pilot was performed by the Dallas County Office of the Medical Examiner, Dallas, Texas. The autopsy report listed the cause of death as blunt force trauma, and the manner of death as suicide. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N23107](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N23107), registered now, S/N 172S13105, built 2023 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: TEXTRON AVIATION INC 172S - Registry model: [Textron 172S](https://openairdocs.org/model/textron-172s) (registry code 2072449) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-360-L2A](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-360-l2a) (registry code 41597, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 172S13105 - Year built: 2023 - Airframe hours: 26.4 - Engines: Lycoming IO-360-L2A 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: ADS, Addison, TX - Equipment: Stall warning system, ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 23; injuries: fatal; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review December 24, 2023; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 196 total, 196 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night - Wind: 270° at 3 knots - Visibility: 4 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 1,300 ft overcast - Temperature: 48 °F, dew point 46 °F - Altimeter: 30.05 inHg - Observed at: KHHW, 20 nm away - METAR: METAR KHHW 250210Z AUTO 27003KT 4SM BR SCT003 OVC013 09/08 A3005 RMK AO2= ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20240124001759A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20240124001759A), Jan 24, 2024: Textron Aviation Inc 172S, Direct, TX, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Pilot made a disturbing transmission just before leaving the pattern at ADS arpt. Pilot deliberately disabled communication breaker to preclude communication… ## Docket (9 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 5, 2024, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=193707. 19.1 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 1.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17502825&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Medical factual memorandum for record (item 2, PDF, 4 pages, 156 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17530452&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=CEN24LA099_MedicalFactualMemo-Rel.pdf - Toxicological report (item 3, PDF, 2 pages, 319 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17530186&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=TOX_Redacted-Rel.pdf - ADS-B data (item 4, XLSX, 7.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17524765&FileExtension=xlsx&FileName=20240125_A20EAF_538886652_ADSB-Rel.xlsx - ADS-B data (google earth file) (item 5, KMZ, 276 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17524623&FileExtension=kmz&FileName=20240125_A20EAF_538886652-Rel.kmz - Maintenance records (item 6, PDF, 10 pages, 5.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17529465&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=N23107%20Maintenance%20Logbook_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Pilot training records (item 7, PDF, 5 pages, 703 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17524775&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Logan%20James%20(2117041)%20-%20Training%20Events-Rel.pdf - Air traffic control recording (addison local control) (item 8, MP3, 3.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17525033&FileExtension=mp3&FileName=CXK655%20Accident%20Shout%20line%20call-Rel.mp3 - Accident scene photographs (item 9, PDF, 4 pages, 141 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17526282&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photos-Rel.pdf 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.