Private Pilot Allegedly Dies by Suicide in an Airplane

The pilot is believed to have intentionally crashed the aircraft in a remote part of Texas.

Meg Godlewski

Thursday, January 25, 2024 at 05:33 PM ET

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A 2023 Skyhawk like this one was lost in a fatal accident on January 24 in Texas. [Courtesy: ATP]

Key Takeaways:

Authorities are investigating a suspected suicide by airplane on January 24, involving 23-year-old Logan Timothy James who stole a Cessna 172S from ATP Flight School in Dallas.
James made a final radio transmission to air traffic control stating his intention to disregard instructions and disable communications before the aircraft entered a steep dive and crashed in East Texas.
The incident, which authorities believe involved a suicide note left by James, is under investigation by the Texas Department of Public Safety, FAA, and NTSB.

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Authorities in East Texas are investigating what appears to be suicide by airplane the night of January 24.

A release from the Texas Department of Public Safety states the airplane—a 2023 Cessna 172S Skyhawk SP (N23107)—was stolen from ATP Flight School at Addison Airport (KADS), located just north of downtown Dallas, by Logan Timothy James, 23, from Stokesdale, North Carolina. James was alone in the airplane.