Pitts S1-T | N51HC

DTSB: The DTSB determines the Probable Cause of this accident to be Pilot Suicide. This narrative from the NTSB report: “A witness stated that on the morning of the accident he was driving down to his hangar when he observed the pilot taxiing the airplane at an unusually fast speed directly in front of his truck. He noted that the pilot was not wearing a headset and the long red “remove before flight” cover was installed on the pitot tube. The pilot’s spouse was running after the airplane and appeared very distressed. She asked the witness to help stop the pilot’s flight, explaining that he was on medication and should not be flying an airplane. He then witnessed the airplane exit the hangar area and make a sharp left 180° turn onto Taxiway Alpha. Immediately thereafter, the airplane sounded as though the pilot applied full power and he witnessed the airplane depart from the taxiway within a few hundred feet, briefly contacting the dirt between the taxiway and runway. A review of the airport security cameras located near the air traffic control tower confirmed the witness’s observation of the departure sequence from the taxiway.” The aircraft flew 5 minutes after takeoff and entered a left spiral directly into terrain.

NTSB: NONE

DTSB: Pending.

NTSB: NONE