Probable cause
The pilot’s intentional flight into terrain.
NTSB analysis
The pilot reported that, while en route to his destination airport, he became emotional and decided to intentionally fly his airplane into the side of a mountain in an attempt to commit suicide. The pilot reported no mechanical malfunctions with the airplane.
Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for CEN15LA122 for the full record.
Event
- Date
- Jan 25, 2015
- Type
- Accident
- Place
- Routt County, Colorado
- Highest injury
- Serious
- Serious injuries
- 1
- Weather
- Visual (VMC)
- Light
- Day
Cessna 172F
- N-number
- N8368U
- Category
- Airplane
- Year built
- 1964
- Damage
- Substantial
- Operating rule
- Part 91 (general aviation)
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
From the NTSB aviation accident database: N-registered aircraft, events since 2008, data through Oct 28, 2026. The file is published monthly, so the latest weeks are incomplete and recent records can change. The official source is the NTSB aviation investigation search. CheckAero is independent and not affiliated with the NTSB.