Year: 2005 Source: Aviation, Space, and Environmental Medicine, v.76, no.8, (August 2005), p.715-719 SIEC No: 20052097

Aviation accidents reported by the National Transportation Safety Board from 1983-2003 were screened for cases in which suicide was listed as a probable cause. For each suicide case, 2 accidents were randomly selected as controls matched on sex of pilot, type of flight, state, & year of occurrence. The results show that 37 pilots died by or attempted suicide by aircraft, with 36 resulting in at least 1 fatality. Aviation crashes caused by suicide differ from unintentional aviation accidents in pilot characteristics, crash circumstances, & outcomes. (LC) (20 refs)