Lidle was an average MLB pitcher. His death was far from average - he went out with a bang. On October 11/06, Lidle and flight instructor Tyler Stanger crashed a Cirrus SR20 into the Belaire Apartments on New York's Upper East side. Here is the NTSB report. It is a great read with pictures and diagrams. A few tidbits:
- No drugs or alcohol found in either Lidle or Stanger
- The Lidle and Stanger families attended a musical the night before
- Lidle and Stanger sent their families to California via a commercial flight on the morning of Oct 11/06. They both planned on flying to CA the next day in the Cirrus
- NTSB was unable to determine who was flying the plane at the time of the crash ( dual controls)
- Cause of crash: pilot error. they were trying to make a U-turn when the crash happened.
http://www.ntsb.gov/publictn/2007/aab0702.pdf
Lidle's grave:
http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=16142334