"So for those of you who'd prefer to start your ascension to the gates
of heaven with a bit a head start, why break an airplane in the
process?"

Hell, I wouldn't want anyone playing with my toy, especially after all
the time and money put into it! Seriously though, after all the hours
and time he's put into aviation, you can't help but think that he'd
somehow come to peace with the fact that he would soon die, and that
there was a chance it would happen while in the air. It probably is a
way of dealing with grief; however, its comforting to know that a loved
one was doing something he/ she loved in the moments up to their death.