I'm talking about other people's perceptions of him. If he thought he could make it look like an accident, it looks "better" (to some people) to die in a freak

I'm talking about other people's perceptions of him. If he thought he could make it look like an accident, it looks "better" (to some people) to die in a freak plane crash than it does to kill themselves (which looks "weak"). The insurance money is probably a better explanation but I think the above psychology would apply to quite a few people who wouldn't want to saddle their family with the perceived embarrassment of committing suicide.