Probable cause
The pilot’s intentional flight into terrain as an act of suicide.
NTSB analysis
The pilot departed on a local night flight, conducted four traffic pattern landings, and then climbed to about 4,000 ft mean sea level. About 10 miles from the airport, ADS-B data showed the airplane made numerous turns before data ended. The airplane was located the next day in an agricultural field; it was destroyed by impact forces.
Postaccident examination of the wreckage did not identify any anomalies that would have prevented normal operation of the airplane. The pilot left behind two notes suggesting that he was going to commit suicide. Following a death investigation, the county coroner classified the manner of death as a suicide.
Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for CEN24LA157 for the full record.
Event
- Date
- Apr 12, 2024
- Type
- Accident
- Place
- Montmorenci, Indiana
- Highest injury
- Fatal
- Fatal injuries
- 1
- Weather
- Visual (VMC)
- Light
- Night
Piper PA-28-161
- N-number
- N564PU
- Category
- Airplane
- Year built
- 2002
- Damage
- Destroyed
- 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.