RV-4 Went Down Near Laughlin/Bullhead International Airport In AZ

A pilot apparently shot himself in the head while flying his RV-4 airplane near Bullhead City, AZ, Saturday.

Authorities initially treated the crash as a normal accident, but an autopsy released Monday revealed that the pilot, 44-year-old Thomas Joseph of Cornville, AZ, died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head. The plane went down near Laughlin/Bullhead International Airport (KIFP) early in the morning Saturday. Neither the airport or its control tower were open at the time the accident is thought to have occurred. The wreckage was discovered at about 7:20 local time Saturday morning.

The Mohave Valley Daily News reports that Joseph took off from the Cottonwood, AZ, airport, about 150 miles east of Bullhead City, before that airport was open. No flight plan was filed, according to the FAA.

There was no one else on board the RV-4 when it went down. Also not known is when Joseph shot himself, though KIFP airport officials said it is possible it happened while the airplane was on approach to the airport.

The results of the autopsy came as a surprise to KIFP airport director David Gaines. "Everyone who responded to the scene thought he died from injuries sustained in the crash, not self inflicted," he said.

FMI: www.ntsb.gov