Photo by Vincent Marshall of The News
The preliminary report from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) about last month’s fatal airplane crash has been released and information from the Fulton County Sheriff’s Office indicates the crash may have been a suicide. The plane, which crashed in a rock quarry April 13 between Hardy and Mammoth Spring, was piloted by 67-year-old Steven Douglas Gill of Ash Flat.
According to previous media reports, Gill was arrested in Sharp County in May of 2022 for the alleged rape of a 15-year-old female. During the investigation, Gill admitted to the crime. He was free on $250,000 bond at the time of the plane crash.
A story by The News says the Fulton County Sheriff’s Office was able to identify the pilot through fingerprints. During the investigation, family members to investigators Gill was having suicidal thoughts and said “I’m not going to prison.”
A family member had gone to Gill’s residence and found files that had been laid out and labeled, checkbooks and keys with information about where they could be used.
The NTSB report says the flight originated from Gill’s private airstrip in Ash Flat, which is about 16 miles from the crash site. Witnesses indicated the plane had circled the rock quarry near Mammoth Spring several times before diving into the quarry and colliding with a rock wall.
Investigators found no mechanical problems with the plane. The NTSB investigation in continuing.
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