On 26 January 1928, Metcalfe was taking his fifth lesson in how to pilot an aeroplane, flying over Glendale with Roy Wilson, an instructor from the Wilson Aero Service of that city. During the course of the lesson, Metcalf suddenly took an unexpected loop, and was hurled from the plane, falling to his death. His body was found at Lake and Stazier Streets, in Burbank, and was taken to the Powell Undertaking Company Morgue there. (Los Angeles Times, 27 January 1928)