Guy takes his life and a Q400 aircraft

[tsumini]

just a short anecdote on Media reporting.
In the early 1990's i was working as a Powerplant Engineer for Alaska Airlines which owns Horizon.  they were operating the dehviland Dash 7 using PT6A-50 engines which I had become very familiar with as a Engine Rep in Manufacturer's Field service.
One day out of SEA TAC one of the dash 7's had an engine problem (PT6A_50 Turboprop), it had caught fire and  did an air turn back (ATB). A propeller blade came off and impaled into a hangar roof. The plane landed safely but severely damaged and don't believe any deaths. The plane was stored downstairs in Alaska's hangar in the building I worked in at SEA TAC. The NTSB and FAA conducted their investigation in a a hotel close to the airport. I was not a part of the investigation but had been on others and knew how they worked. There are quite a few people at these usually with sound amplifiers. Participants will immediately try to nail down the facts as known. 1st meetings are very informative and a lot of information is shared.
That said, I recall reading, the day after meetings commenced, the Seattle Post Intelligencer. As I read it I was stuck by what I considered to be a very accurate description of the flight, its problems and accurate reporting of sequences especially engine problems which I could follow knowing the engine. I commented to my wife my surprise at the accurate and detailed reporting and as every one else in the industry reporting experience lacks a lot a credibility.
Anyway later I found out later that the reporter had found a door where the investigation was being conducted that wasn't secured and had pulled up a chair and had listened thru the keyhole/crack in the door and heard every word of the preliminary investigation. At least he could repeat what he heard.

[Jims5543]

Crazy week for planes and pilots.

https://www.rt.com/usa/435881-utah-man-plane-crash/

A Utah man flew a small aircraft into his own house, kamikaze-style, hours after he had been arrested for assaulting his wife during an argument, police say.
Duane Youd, 47, died in the crash, as the light-skinned Cessna disintegrated on impact and burst into flames. Youd's wife and a child, both inside the house, survived and the house remained intact.

Youd had been arrested by police in Payson, Utah, earlier on Sunday, after witnesses reported seeing him assault his wife. The troubled couple had been drinking and had gone to a scenic local spot to talk their problems through, Sgt. Spencer Cannon of the Utah County Sheriff's Office said.

After being booked on suspicion of domestic violence and released on bail, Youd was escorted home by an officer. From there, he set off for nearby Spanish Fork-Springville Airport, commandeered a plane and took off for home.

Dodging power lines and other houses, Youd plowed the plane into the front of his house at 2.30 am. Photos taken at the scene showed Youd's front yard strewn with smoldering wreckage and the house charred and damaged from the fireball.

Investigators said that Youd was a skilled pilot and that the twin-engine Cessna 525 belonged to his employer. They don't know if Youd was allowed to access the plane.

The 47-year-old had a turbulent marriage, and was charged with disorderly conduct after a domestic violence incident in April. Youd and his wife had agreed to attend six months of marriage counselling as part of a plea agreement.

I guess he did not want counseling.

[94touring]

In a Swartnegger (spelling) accent "consider this a divorce"

[Jims5543]

Footage of the crash site. Looks like he augured it in.

[94touring]

I know this won't be funny to all, but gave me a chuckle when I saw it on the airline boards.

[MPlayle]

I guess I have a similar "sick" sense of humor - I chuckled as well.