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

Verified

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

Key Takeaways:

On January 24, Logan Timothy James, 23, allegedly stole a Cessna 172S from ATP Flight School in Addison, Texas, and died by apparent suicide in an East Texas field.
James, a private pilot with an instrument rating, communicated his intent to disregard air traffic control and disconnect communications before flying eastward.
The aircraft's ADS-B track showed a steep dive preceding the impact, and authorities later found a suicide note left by James in Dallas.
The NTSB and FAA are investigating the incident, leading to ATP Flight School restricting aircraft tracking and removing its Addison webpage.

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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.