Andrew Joseph Stack III, the infamous pilot who flew his single engine Piper PA-28-236 into the side of a building that housed the IRS office in northwest Austin, Texas, uttered the words, “Have a great day” just before his crash. This was according to the National Transportation Safety Board’s preliminary report on the incident.
Leaving behind a rather detailed suicide note on the Internet, Stack displayed great antagonism towards the IRS for the way he was allegedly treated. His seething anger and fury drove him to take it out on the IRS in the most horrendous way, copycatting the terrorist acts of 9/11. The NTSB’s investigations reveal the exact train of events on that fateful morning.
Air Traffic control records and radar data show that Stack received clearance for takeoff and flew his airplane from Georgetown Municipal Airport at 9.44 a.m. on February 18. He did not file a flight plan as none was required under the circumstances. After taking off, Stack then headed south, climbing to an altitude of 4,800 feet. At that time, an air traffic controller approved a change in his radio frequency, to which Stack responded, “Eight niner-delta, thanks for your help. Have a great day.” After this, no further verbal communication was made with the pilot.
Ten minutes after taking off, the airplane was detected on radar heading west as it descended from 4,800 feet. Within 3 minutes, at 9.57 a.m. the plane was flying at 1,000 feet, heading south west. It had lost almost 4,000 feet in altitude in 3 minutes.
At 9.58 a.m., tragedy struck when Stack intentionally flew his aircraft into the side of a building in the Echelon office complex along US Highway 183 that contained the IRS. The plane slammed into the building between the first and second floors causing a thunderous crash as it exploded upon impact. Stack and an IRS worker, Vietnam War veteran Vernon Hunter perished in the incident.
The horrific crash left the plane’s engine, two of its propeller blades and its right wing outside the building. The rear end of the plane came to rest on a ledge of the building as it partially hung over the edge. The left wing, part of the fuselage and its remaining propeller blade were found inside the devastated second floor of the building.
If you are having tax problems, no need to do anything drastic. Call us at (813) 229 7100. We will help you solve your IRS problems for good.
Darrin T. Mish is a veteran, nationally recognized tax attorney who has focused on providing IRS help to taxpayers for over a decade. He regularly travels the country training other attorneys, CPAs and enrolled agents on how to handle their toughest cases with the IRS. He is highly ranked among the top attorneys in the country, with an AV rating from Martindale-Hubbell and a perfect 10 on Avvo.com. Martindale-Hubbell has also honored him with a listing in their Bar Register of Preeminent Lawyers. He is a member of the American Society of IRS Problem Solvers and the Tax Freedom Institute. With clients on every continent but Antarctica, he has what it takes to solve your IRS problems no matter where you live in the world. If you would like more information about his practice and how he can help you, please call his office at (813) 229-7100 or toll free at 1-888-GET-MISH.
