Textron Aviation INC 172S accident near Direct, Texas, January 25, 2024
On January 25, 2024 at about 2:15 am local time, a 2023 Textron Aviation INC 172S, registered N23107, was destroyed in an accident during maneuvering near Direct, Texas. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot died by suicide.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 25, 2024 · about 2:15 am local time
- Place
- Direct, Texas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Textron Aviation INC 172S, built 2023
- Registration
- N23107 · registry record · serial 172S13105
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot took off and conducted one circuit of the traffic pattern at the tower-controlled airport. He then advised the tower controller that he would no longer follow their instructions and would be discontinuing radio communication and departing the area to the east. Automatic Dependent Surveillance – Broadcast (ADS-B) data showed the airplane continued to the east about 75 miles before turning north and travelling about 40 miles. The airplane then turned to the northwest. While on the northwest track the airplane climbed to about 11,000 ft. msl and then abruptly began a descent which continued until the track data was lost. The descent rate during the final minute of the flight was about 3,700 feet per minute. The accident site was located about 0.4 miles from the final data point and on a continuation of the final course. The data did not show any evasive maneuvers or an attempt to arrest the descent. The airplane, which impacted an open field, was destroyed and the pilot received fatal injuries. According to the flight school operator of the airplane, the pilot was a student at the flight school, but had not scheduled the airplane and was not authorized to use the airplane on the night of the accident flight. The Lamar County Sheriff’s Office records showed that a concerned citizen called first responders to report that the pilot had left a suicide note. An autopsy of the pilot was performed by the Dallas County Office of the Medical Examiner, Dallas, Texas. The autopsy report listed the cause of death as blunt force trauma, and the manner of death as suicide.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Security/criminal event during maneuvering defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Miscellaneous › Intentional act › Suicide › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 196 hours in all; 196 in this make and model
- Last flight review: December 24, 2023
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 26.4 hours
- Maximum gross weight: 2,550 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-L2A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: ADS Addison TX
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: night
- Wind: from 270° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 4 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 1,300 ft; scat at 300 ft
- Temperature: 48°F (9°C), dew point 46°F (8°C)
- Altimeter: 30.05 inHg
- Observation at 8:10 pm from KHHW, 20 miles away
Weather report (METAR): METAR KHHW 250210Z AUTO 27003KT 4SM BR SCT003 OVC013 09/08 A3005 RMK AO2=
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Photographs from the investigation 3 pictures from the NTSB's docket, as the NTSB released them
Photograph 1 – Left rear view of accident airplane
Photograph 2 – Right side view of accident airplane
Photograph 3 – Front view of accident airplaneThe NTSB's photographs with the NTSB's captions, at screen size. Open a picture to see it full size or to report one that should not be shown.
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
9 documents, released by the NTSB on September 5, 2024. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 9 pages · our copy | View Download |
| 2 | Medical Factual Memorandum for Record | PDF, 4 pages · our copy | View Download |
| 3 | Toxicological Report | PDF, 2 pages · our copy | View Download |
| 4 | ADS-B Data | spreadsheet · our copy | Download |
| 5 | ADS-B Data (Google Earth File) | map file · our copy | Download |
| 6 | Maintenance Records | PDF, 10 pages · our copy | View Download |
| 7 | Pilot Training Records | PDF, 5 pages · our copy | View Download |
| 8 | Air Traffic Control Recording (Addison Local Control) | audio · our copy | View Download |
| 9 | Accident Scene Photographs | PDF, 4 pages · our copy | View Download |
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.