According to the U.S. Coast Guard, they received a notification of a downed aircraft 15 nautical miles east from Pompano Beach, Florida. They responded to the location and confirmed debris of a Cessna 172 airplane and a deceased occupant.
The Coast Guard then received a call from the wife of the pilot regarding a note she received expressing possible suicidal intentions. She described her spouse and the airplane, which matched the recovered debris and the occupant.
The wreckage of the airplane was not otherwise recovered, and the airplane was presumed destroyed.
A review of Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) flight track data showed that the airplane departed from Pompano Beach Airpark in Florida before flying northwest for about 10 nautical miles. The airplane then began circling before heading west towards the Atlantic Ocean.
While over the ocean, the airplane made a turn to the north before radar/ADS-B contact was lost.
Following an investigation, the Office of Medical Examiner in Palm Beach County classified the manner of death as a suicide.
Probable Cause: The pilot’s suicide.
To download the final report. Click here. This will trigger a PDF download to your device.
This August 2022 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.
This story had a 50 50 shot at reporting it properly and we as readers of aviation related things as such appreciate that , however as your own addition to the story ADS-B visual should have been a clue that your NW travel THEN East travel was backwards …seems only the North travel was the only part for the most part was correct .
Correction you did get the NW part correct as well !
At least he went down in the ocean, not in the middle of a town. RIP.
GOD REST HIS SOUL..AND BLESS HIS FAMILY..IN JESUS MIGHTY NAME..AMEN..LOVE ONE ANOTHER LIFE IS WAY TO SHORT..REST IN PEACE OUR FRIEND..
A reminder to everyone that it doesn’t matter how rough of spot you are going through it’s not worth your life
Condolences to the widow and family
Since when is the Atlantic Ocean west of pompano beach?
Was wondering about that too. Maybe east?
My in-laws live in Pompano Beach and definitely the Atlantic Ocean is east!
Very tragic and never a solution to life’s problems. Try Jesus instead.
Amen brother.