A witness, located on the shoreline near Arch Cape, Oregon, reported she observed the Cessna 172 arrive from the south and start to slowly reduce its altitude as it neared her position.
The airplane appeared to be in controlled flight in its descent and the engine RPM was consistent with a cruising flight sound, she told investigators.
The airplane continued to descend until it hit the water just before Falcon Rock, a large, exposed rock located offshore. A large wave crashed over the airplane and it disappeared under the water.
The wreckage was not located. The pilot is presumed fatally injured and the airplane destroyed.
A friend of the pilot reported that the pilot was diagnosed with a terminal illness and added that the pilot did not want to be in a hospital or a care facility and preferred to die in his house or his airplane.
Probable Cause: The pilot’s descent into the ocean for reasons that could not be determined.
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This November 2020 accident report is provided by the National Transportation Safety Board. Published as an educational tool, it is intended to help pilots learn from the misfortunes of others.
You should learn something from every incident, even a reminder.
Fwiw, I didn’t learn anything from this “ accident “ report.
I thought that was the objective, to learn from some one else’s mistake. And to not repeat that mistake …
I learned that some terminally sick pilots choose to drown in the airplane rather than suffering expensive prolonged horrendous painful death on hospital bed,
Next question; do you agree with him?
Yes, i do
It’s selfish to act upon Innocent Souls. Shame On You….
The pilot was the sole occupant of the aircraft. No “innocent souls” were involved. Sad yes, but the definition of free will.