Shane Pennington, II
August 1, 2002 — January 24, 2023
~
Aviation Investigation Final Report - National Transportation Safety Board
Investigator In Charge (IIC): Sauer, Aaron
The National Transportation Safety Board did not travel to the scene of this accident.
Additional Participating Entities:
Christopher Johnson; Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Indianapolis, Indiana
Cirrus Aircraft; Duluth, Minnesota
Investigation Docket - National Transportation Safety Board:
99EC Holdings LLC
Location: Indianapolis, Indiana
Accident Number: CEN23LA093
Date and Time: January 24, 2023, 15:39 Local
Registration: N99EC
Aircraft: CIRRUS DESIGN CORP SR20
Aircraft Damage: Destroyed
Defining Event: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT)
Injuries: 1 Fatal
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General aviation - Personal
Analysis
The airplane, rented by the pilot, departed on a reported short cross-country flight. Flight track data showed that after takeoff, the airplane climbed to an altitude of about 1,000 ft above ground level and traveled southeast. Near the end of the flight, the airplane performed a 360° turn and began a rapid descent. The highly fragmented wreckage was located adjacent to a railroad track in a residential area. The airplane damage was consistent with a high angle and high energy impact with terrain. Examination of the airplane revealed no preimpact mechanical deficiencies that would have precluded normal operation of the airplane. Following a death investigation, the coroner classified the manner of death as a suicide.
Probable Cause and Findings
The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident to be:
The pilot’s intentional flight into terrain as an act of suicide.
Findings
Personnel issues Suicide - Pilot
Factual Information
History of Flight
Maneuvering Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) (Defining event)
On January 24, 2023, about 1539 eastern standard time, a Cirrus SR20 airplane, N99EC, was destroyed when it was involved in an accident near Indianapolis, Indiana. The pilot sustained fatal injuries. The airplane was being operated as a Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight.
According to automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast data (ADS-B), the airplane departed the Indianapolis Executive Airport, Indianapolis, Indiana, about 1526. After takeoff, the airplane turned left, climbed to about 1,000 ft above ground level, and continued to the southeast past downtown Indianapolis. South of downtown and near the end of the data, the airplane made a 360° left turn and began a rapid descent. A residential surveillance camera captured the impact sequence and showed the airplane impact in a nose and right-wing low attitude. There were no witnesses to the accident.
The airplane wreckage was located adjacent to a single railroad track and several residential homes. The initial impact point, which was consistent with the propeller, engine, forward fuselage, and both wings, was located about 20 ft from the main wreckage. The initial impact contained the propeller blades and fragmented sections of the forward fuselage. Fragmented sections of the fuselage, wings, and empennage were found forward of the main wreckage.
The airplane damage was consistent with a high angle and high energy impact with terrain.
Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed no mechanical malfunctions that would have precluded normal operations.
An autopsy of the pilot was performed by the Marion County Coroner’s Office, Indianapolis, Indiana. The autopsy report listed the cause of death as blunt force trauma, and the manner of death as suicide.
The Federal Aviation Administration Forensic Sciences Laboratory performed toxicology testing on specimens from the pilot. Testing was negative for ethanol and carbon monoxide.
An unspecified level of Fentanyl was detected in the blood (cavity).
Pilot Information
Certificate: Private
Age: 20, Male
Airplane Rating(s): Single-engine land
Seat Occupied: Left
Other Aircraft Rating(s): None
Restraint Used: 4-point
Instrument Rating(s): Airplane
Second Pilot Present: No
Instructor Rating(s): None
Toxicology Performed: Yes
Medical Certification: Class 1 Without waivers/limitations
Last FAA Medical Exam: March 12, 2020
Occupational Pilot: No
Last Flight Review or Equivalent:
Flight Time: (Estimated) 219.5 hours (Total, all aircraft), 197.5 hours (Total, this make and model), 32.8 hours (Pilot In Command, all aircraft)
Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information
Aircraft Make: CIRRUS DESIGN CORP
Registration: N99EC
Model/Series: SR20
Aircraft Category: Airplane
Year of Manufacture: 2016
Amateur Built:
Airworthiness Certificate: Normal
Serial Number: 2307
Landing Gear Type: Tricycle
Seats: 4
Date/Type of Last Inspection: November 21, 2022 100 hour
Certified Max Gross Wt.: 3050 lbs
Time Since Last Inspection:
Engines: 1 Reciprocating
Airframe Total Time: 2532.7 Hrs as of last inspection
Engine Manufacturer: CONT MOTOR
ELT: C126 installed, not activated
Engine Model/Series: IO-360-ES 26B
Registered Owner:
Rated Power: 210 Horsepower
Operator: On file
Operating Certificate(s) Held: None
Meteorological Information and Flight Plan
Conditions at Accident Site: Visual (VMC)
Condition of Light: Day
Observation Facility, Elevation: KIND,792 ft msl
Distance from Accident Site: 7 Nautical Miles
Observation Time: 20:54 Local
Direction from Accident Site: 282°
Lowest Cloud Condition: Few / 3000 ft AGL
Visibility: 10 miles
Lowest Ceiling: Overcast / 25000 ft AGL
Visibility (RVR):
Wind Speed/Gusts: 3 knots /
Turbulence Type Forecast/Actual: /
Wind Direction: 230°
Turbulence Severity Forecast/Actual: /
Altimeter Setting: 30.14 inches Hg
Temperature/Dew Point: 6°C / -2°C
Precipitation and Obscuration: No Obscuration; No Precipitation
Departure Point: Indianapolis, IN
Type of Flight Plan Filed:
Destination: Indianapolis, IN
Type of Clearance: None
Departure Time:
Type of Airspace: Class D
Wreckage and Impact Information
Crew Injuries: 1 Fatal
Aircraft Damage: Destroyed
Passenger Injuries:
Aircraft Fire: None
Ground Injuries:
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 1 Fatal
Latitude, Longitude: 39.701295,-86.136893(est)
Shane L. Pennington, II
August 1, 2002 — January 24, 2023
~
Location: Indianapolis, Indiana
Accident Number: CEN23LA093
Date and Time: January 24, 2023, 15:39 Local
Registration: N99EC
Aircraft: Cirrus SR20
Injuries: 1 Fatal
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General aviation - Personal
On January 24, 2023, about 1539 eastern standard time, a Cirrus SR20 airplane, N99EC, was destroyed when it was involved in an accident near Indianapolis, Indiana. The pilot sustained fatal injuries. The airplane was being operated as a Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight.
According to automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast data (ADS-B), the airplane departed the Indianapolis Executive Airport, Indianapolis, Indiana, about 1526. After takeoff, the airplane turned left, climbed to about 1,000 ft above ground level, and continued to the southeast past downtown Indianapolis. South of downtown and near the end of the data, the airplane made a 360° left turn and began a rapid descent (see Figure 1.). A residential surveillance camera captured the impact sequence and showed the airplane impact in a nose and right-wing low attitude. There were no witnesses to the accident.
The airplane wreckage was located adjacent to a single railroad track and several residential homes. The initial impact point, which was consistent with the propeller, engine, forward fuselage, and both wings, was located about 20 ft from the main wreckage. The initial impact contained the propeller blades and fragmented sections of the forward fuselage. Fragmented sections of the fuselage, wings, and empennage were found in the debris forward of the main wreckage. The airplane damage was consistent with a high angle and high energy impact with terrain.
Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed no mechanical malfunctions that would have precluded normal operations.
Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information
Aircraft Make: Cirrus
Registration: N99EC
Model/Series: SR20
Aircraft Category: Airplane
Amateur Built:
Operator: On file
Operating Certificate(s) Held: None
Operator Designator Code:
Meteorological Information and Flight Plan
Conditions at Accident Site: VMC
Condition of Light: Day
Observation Facility, Elevation: KIND, 792 ft msl
Observation Time: 20:54 Local
Distance from Accident Site: 7 Nautical Miles
Temperature/Dew Point: 6°C /-2°C
Lowest Cloud Condition: Few / 3000 ft AGL
Wind Speed/Gusts, Direction: 3 knots / , 230°
Lowest Ceiling: Overcast / 25000 ft AGL
Visibility: 10 miles
Altimeter Setting: 30.14 inches Hg
Type of Flight Plan Filed:
Departure Point: Indianapolis, IN
Destination: Indianapolis, IN
Wreckage and Impact Information
Crew Injuries: 1 Fatal
Aircraft Damage: Destroyed
Passenger Injuries:
Aircraft Fire: None
Ground Injuries:
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 1 Fatal
Latitude, Longitude: 39.701295,-86.136893 (est)
Shane Pennington, II, 20, Mooresville, passed away January 24, 2023. Shane was born August 1, 2002, in Mooresville, to Shane and Angela (Price) Pennington.
Shane grew up in Mooresville and graduated from Mooresville High School in 2020 and most recently from Vincennes University. He was a licensed pilot and was working towards becoming a commercial pilot. Shane was a gifted athlete and played in the Mooresville Youth baseball, basketball, and football programs. He played basketball for the Mooresville Pioneers in high school and also was a high jumper. Shane was a people person, often described as the life of the party, he was a great friend to many. He was usually the organizer of the parties and kept the friends together. He loved fitness, working out, and taking care of himself. Shane enjoyed traveling, experiencing new things, and made for an easy role model for his friends and family. He had a special bond with his dog Sadie. Shane’s memory will be forever cherished by his loving family and many friends.
He was preceded in death by his maternal grandfather, Mark Price and aunt, Michelle Price.
Survivors include his parents, Shane and Angie Pennington; siblings, Alyssa (John) Dugger, Jacob Pennington, and Braydon Price; maternal grandmother, Tammy Price (Mimi); paternal grandparents, Janet (Caleb) McCauley; nephew, Elliott and Owen Dugger; and extended family consisting of Shane’s loving aunts, uncles, and cousins.
A Celebration of Life will be announced in the coming days. Carlisle – Branson Funeral Service & Crematory, Mooresville, is serving the family. Visit www.CarlisleBranson.com to share a favorite memory or to sign the online guest registry.
Shane Pennington, II
~
Shane Pennington said he was surprised to learn his son wanted to become a pilot after graduating high school. The Mooresville senior loved sports, had lots of friends and enjoyed seeing new places, but he didn't mention flying aircraft until nearly the end of his senior year.
"He just kind of out of nowhere said, 'Hey, I want to be a pilot,' so we looked into a program," Pennington told IndyStar of his son, Shane Pennington II who died unexpectedly at age 20 after a plane crash last month.
On January 24, the Cirrus SR20 aircraft that Pennington II was piloting crashed beside railroad tracks in the 4100 block of Weaver Avenue, a residential area near the University of Indianapolis. Pennington II was the sole occupant in the airplane and was pronounced dead at the scene. The crash is being investigated by the Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board.
"He was excited to be a pilot. He really loved it," his father said, adding, "I think deep down, everybody wants to be a pilot, you know? At least a little bit. I did, as a young kid. I thought it was pretty cool."
Pennington said right after his son graduated from Mooresville High School, he enrolled at Vincennes University, where he received a pilot's license in May 2020, and was flying small planes over the skies of Indianapolis before he was 19 years old.
"We love him and are very proud of all the things he was able to accomplish," Pennington told IndyStar.
The small aircraft piloted by Pennington II departed the Indianapolis Executive Airport at about 3:26 p.m. on January 24 under overcast skies. After takeoff, the plane climbed to about 1,000 feet above the ground and continued southeast past downtown Indianapolis, according to a preliminary report from the National Transportation Safety Board.
South of downtown, the airplane made a 360-degree left turn and began a rapid descent. There were no witnesses to the accident, records state.
Investigators who examined the wreckage reported there were "no mechanical malfunctions" that would have interrupted the normal operations of the airplane.
Officials noted the information in the report is preliminary and subject to change.
in their conclusion, "The airplane damage was consistent with a high angle and high energy impact with terrain," the report said. "Post accident examination of the airplane revealed no mechanical malfunctions that would have precluded normal operations." thus henceforth inquiry will be beyond N99EC!
ReplyDeleteLooking at the pics of the wreckage (bits and pieces) I don't see how that determination could be made....but I'm not an NTSB accident investigator.
DeleteFinal determination by medical examiner: suicide.
DeleteI don't want to argue with the ME but he doesn't sound like the suicide type. They found fentanyl, could it be that he was just impaired and crashed?
DeleteFrank - he left a suicide note, so you're wrong.
DeleteRegistrant (LLC): 99ec Holdings LLC, 4101 Dandy Trl, Indianapolis, IN 46254. Eagle Creek Aviation at Eagle Creek Airport (EYE) 4101 Dandy Trail Indianapolis, IN 46254.
ReplyDeleteadsbexchange shows pretty wide 360 turn to left with speed about 120 mph and altitude fairly level then aircraft flying constant 325 degree heading then rapid descent at 5056 ft per min on constant heading appears not to be turning or spinning .
ReplyDeleteI saw something about a note left behind, just rumors as far as I know.
ReplyDeleteThere is discussion on another aviation message board that suggests this may have been a suicide. Allegedly a note was left behind and the location was near the home of a recent ex girlfriend. I’m not speculating, just commenting that some who allegedly have knowledge of this incident are making this claim.
ReplyDeleteWell, it turns out that you were absolutely correct in your presumption of cause.
DeleteThe adsbexchange track shows left turn was like a holding pattern with turns at both ends of straight legs not a tight 360 stall/spin spiral turn then a straight flight at end of last turn perpendicular or 90 degree from holding pattern type turn for shirt distance then a sudden fast descent of 5056 ft /min at 120 mph speed does seem like plane could have been intentionally crashed if crash site was near ex girlfriend and a suicide note was found. NTSB will probably talk to ex girlfriend. Pilot seemed like a goal driven person with a bright future . So sad .
ReplyDeletePerhaps too driven? Since he was Pennington Jr. he may have been influenced by over-eager parents, pushing him to succeed. With this mental health history he never would have been airline material (we hope).
DeleteFly Girl - stand down, Gossip GIrl.
DeleteIt would appear Fly Girl knows far too much about this pilot's personal life and accident circumstances. "She" needs to be formally interviewed as to the Fentanyl use and crash.
Deletetoxicology report says Fentanyl - not gossip - very sad
DeleteI saw and heard the airplane's engine rpm drop to almost nothing very quickly and them pick up again. This was just prior to the reported 360 degree turn. I actually heard the plane whoosh extremely close overhead of my house about 2 seconds before a very loud thud. The engine was not running as it whooshed over the house. Condolences to the family and friends!
ReplyDeleteLast commentor sheds a whole new light on this tragic crash. By the sounds of his/her account it may be an engine out, with a momentary restart, followed by total engine failure, and a crash ensuing a few seconds later.
ReplyDeleteDoesn't sound like a suicide to me, but an engine failure resulting in the fatal crash. Did this SR20 have a CAPS?
ur "Did this SR20 have a CAPS?"
Delete... all Cirrus are equipped with the FAA certified CAPS since 1998.
Last speed on adsbexchange was 120 mph seems slow if diving for ground in suicide flight . Engine out glide speed is probably less than 120 so if no engine noise as described in previous comment 120 was not best glide speed.
ReplyDeleteThe speed reported is gps ground speed, not air speed.
DeleteJust seems strange if he was at 120, it would fly even with no flaps, FAA no show may be a clue
ReplyDeleteI was the one commenting on the no engine sound. My other observation was that at the crash site (again by my house) there was no fire, no explosions, and no wet ground from fuel. If you view the youtube upclose crash site (the neighbor was basicly on top of the crash taking video, even before emergency response of any kind arrived) you can clearly see NO leakeage of fuel or fluids of any kind and the the aircraft was massively destroyed. In my view, if the plane had fuel, there would have been at least a small fire and or possible exlopsion with the wetness of fuel on the ground and there was none. I think he ran out of fuel and maybe in an attemp to find a place to lane, put the plane in a non recoverable stall, sending it to the ground. Just my opinion.
DeleteCirrus SR20 stalls at about 57 knots or about 66 MPH . Per adsbexchange the Ground speed was 120 in straight flight with 5056 ft /min descent so stall seems unlikely. All Cirrus planes have CAPS parachute system but are not effective unless pulled at least 500 ft in air .No engine running , no fire, no fuel on ground sounds like fuel exhaustion if no fuel in tanks . Railroad seems like good emergency landing area . Video above may show a road was adjacent to railroad too. Seems like survivable landing with engine out .
ReplyDeleteThe circumstances surrounding this crash have suddenly taken on another light.
ReplyDeleteAccording to the above, he was 20 yo, and received his pilot's license in May of 2020. Don't know hours, or quality of experience, but 20 is young to handle what may be an emergency that would challenge many of us.
ReplyDelete1. A stall/spin accident does not fragment like that.
ReplyDelete2. An aircraft going straight down at 200+ mph has 0 mph ground speed.
3. 120 mph ground speed in 5000+ fpm descent equals a very high airspeed.
4. This was either and intentional act or an extremely botched aerobatic maneuver.
1. TRUE - Sometimes - If Flat Spin Not usually
Delete2. TRUE - Flight Breakup Imminent
3. TRUE - Power Out Possible for sure - not enough Ground speed here for this FPM Decent
4. INTENTIONAL Feeliing - Most Likely - The 360 Turn Prior and the non dense area Killing Time Disturbs me - Not many TRUE Pilots fly with an near empty Tank if this is the case
3. 120 mph = 2 Miles/minute; 5280 fpm = 1 mile/ minute = 60 mph, make triangle with 2 Miles ground length and 1 mile height, square each and add = 2^2+1^2=5; √5=2.24; 60mph (= 1 mile/minute, the height of the triangle ) × 2.24 = 134 mph slanted "airspeed". Not thaaaaat much more than 120 mph
Delete1. TRUE - Sometimes - If Flat Spin Not usually
Delete2. TRUE - Flight Breakup Imminent
3. TRUE - Power Out Possible for sure - not enough Ground speed here for this FPM Decent unless power out
4. INTENTIONAL - Most Likely - The 360 Turn Prior and the non dense area possibly Killing Time Disturbs me - Not many TRUE Pilots fly with an near empty Tank if they are Wise...
@ 3. Not sure what very high airspeed means to you, here are two calculations according to your numbers, both with 5000+ fpm descents:
Delete5280 fpm descent = 1 mile/minute = 60 mph; 10560 fpm = 2 miles/min = 120 mph
Groundspeed 120 mph = 2 miles/minute
Pythagoras' triangle = 1 mile high, 2 miles long = 1^2+2^2=5
Slanted side = sqrt 5 * 1 (= 60 mph) = 2.24 * 60 = 134 mph
At 10560 fpm descent = 120 mph the said triangle would have equal height and length, hence the slanted side, at 45 degrees to the ground, would be sqrt2 = 1.4 and multiplied with 120 mph = 169mph.
I forgot to mention that of course the groundspeed could also be divided by the cosine of the angle of the groundskeeper with the slant range, 30 and 45 degrees, respectively, or the sine of the angle of the descent and slant range, 60 and 45 degrees, respectively in the above examples to arrive at the slant speed.
DeleteSame thing as calculating crosswind and headwind components, BTW.
The sine was next to the cosine? Very confusing.
DeleteDepends on the angle.
DeleteCotangent?
DeleteYou are all giving me headache just thinking about the math!
DeleteOffered without opinion as to cause, but acknowledging the possible engine out glide scenario:
ReplyDeleteWeaver street may have looked like a good place to set down. A quiet street, made wider by a turf strip existing between pavement and the tracks. Unfortunately, there is also a streetlight pole line there. The pole line ends before the impact point, so he could have stalled trying to keep above and get beyond the final pole, or opted in the last seconds to move toward the tracks in order to sidestep the pole line and just got a bad outcome.
The last captured data point in adsbexchange was while passing the end of East Markwood Ave, impact and debris location is just beyond the end of East Mills. Looks like about 150 feet of travel distance after last ADS-B data point was captured.
Here is a Streetview image, matched to the houses visible at the 19 second mark of the youtube video:
https://goo.gl/maps/QFy866Uq5gg7g5kv5
Spin that view to the right and look south at the pole line he had to clear- here is the closer view:
https://goo.gl/maps/uaLP1FJ8SkivdcHh9
Here is the Streetview image matched to debris area, noting the fence, house and outbuilding visible at 34 seconds in the youtube video (understanding that green vegetation in the older Streetview image was winter dormant when the crash happened):
https://goo.gl/maps/YC5H4DKwxZvyNksC9
How long was the debris field . Long debris field would indicate shallow or flat approach at higher forward speed. Small Debris with crater would indicate vertical stall spin type flight path .
ReplyDeleteThe NTSB Preliminary Report says:
Delete* "The initial impact point ... was located about 20 ft from the main wreckage."
* "The airplane damage was consistent with a high angle and high energy impact ...."
The report of any fatal is awful, but when the victim is so very young, with so much living ahead of them, it hits harder somehow. Molehills are mountains at that age, until you’ve seen a few mountains, and know the difference.. whatever the cause, an accident or something else, inexperience was definitely a factor. Enjoy your eternal wings young man, and fly free. Condolences to all who knew and loved him.
ReplyDeleteHow could the corner rule this a suicide? What is this conclusion based on?
ReplyDeleteMedical examiner determined this a suicide, based on flight track, dumped by girlfriend and note left.
ReplyDeleteHumans do crazy things. It's a small miracle any of us live long enough to have children. Saw this report before comments started and couldn't make any sense of it then. Still can't. Fentanyl in the report doesn't help develop pilot confidence. Girlfriend problems are like a bad dream. You always wake up. Being a pilot is all about being a pilot. You have to be 100% there all the time. These flying machines are mostly reliable, but not necessarily totally safe. If there is anything to learn from this tragedy, perhaps it's to self-assess your state of mind and body every time you climb into the cockpit, and ask yourself if you should be doing this right now. Peace, brother.
ReplyDeleteSuch a sad, senseless waste of a perfectly good aircraft!
ReplyDeleteYou really screwed us by going dark KR. Shame on you.
ReplyDeleteKR received death threats, stalking, and harassment. Shame on the aviation community. KR's safety is most important.
DeleteI sure KR would come back. Really can't say how many people are safer pilots because of all the facts and data harvested here...
ReplyDeleteRidiculous and selfish. If you're going to take your own life do it without destroying expensive property of someone else and potentially causing death on the ground. I have no sympathy for someone who would have graduated to mass murder and suicide later in life if facing another hardship.
ReplyDeleteObviously his mentality was to go out "In a blaze of glory" destroying a plane too.
Whoever gives a student pilot certificate should do a better job assessing the psychology of the individuals. We don't need them in Aviation and certainly don't need them acting on their bad traits. He definitely slipped through the cracks.
shocked!! "KR received death threats, stalking, and harassment." KR did clean reporting, most needed and rare today. Miss this source of facts and human interest.
ReplyDeleteI don't understand consciously choosing that location to land unless there was a connection to that exact spot that drove the decision. There are certainly better places to land close-by, in a power-out scenerio. Was the alledged note verified? The coroner's ruling so quickly tends to indicate that
ReplyDeleteYes, interviews with friends and family members backed up the suicide scenario. In addition, he had taken fentanyl. What a guy!
ReplyDelete