14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Thursday, December 08, 2011 in Coupeville, WA
Aircraft: PIPER PA-28R-200, registration: N2611R
Injuries: 1 Fatal.
This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this report will be corrected when the final report has been completed. NTSB investigators either traveled in support of this investigation or conducted a significant amount of investigative work without any travel, and used data obtained from various sources to prepare this aircraft accident report.
On December 8, 2011, about 1557 Pacific standard time, a Piper PA-28R-200, N2611R, sustained substantial damage during a forced landing near Coupeville, Washington. The airplane was registered to Whidbey Island Navy Flying Club, Oak Harbor, Washington, and operated by the pilot under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. The private pilot, sole occupant of the airplane, sustained fatal injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a company flight plan was filed for the personal flight. The local flight originated from the Whidbey Island Naval Air Station (NUW), Oak Harbor, Washington, about 1500.
A witness, who was a rated pilot and was located adjacent to the accident site, reported observing an airplane approaching their position at a low altitude as if the pilot was attempting to land in a nearby open field. The witness stated that as the airplane moved closer, they did not hear the engine and watched the airplane impact terrain just below a ridge line of a bluff and erupt into flames.
Examination of the accident site by the National Transportation Safety Board investigator-in-charge (IIC) revealed that the airplane impacted a hill side about 50 feet below the top of a ridge line adjacent to an open field and came to rest upright. The main wreckage was located down slope about 20 feet from the initial impact point. All major structural components were located within about 100-feet of the main wreckage and a post-accident fire consumed the fuselage and inboard portions of both wings. The wreckage was recovered to a secure location for further examination.
COUPEVILLE -- Officials have released the name of the pilot killed in a plane crash late Thursday afternoon in the Ebey's Landing area on Whidbey Island.
Michael Scovill Heaton, Sr., was the only person on board. His identity was confirmed Friday afternoon by Island County Deputy Coroner Susan Higman.
The 1969 Piper Arrow that Heaton was flying was returning to Whidbey Island Naval Air Station when it crashed, base spokeswoman Kimberly Martin said.
It wasn't immediately clear where the pilot was flying from, Martin said.
The crash happened near the intersection of Ebey's Landing Road and Hill Road, Martin said.
Heaton, a member of the Civil Air Patrol, belonged to the recreational Whidbey Island Navy Flying Club based at the naval air station.
The crash is being investigated by the Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board, Martin said.
Active duty military personnel with private pilot licenses and Civil Air Patrol pilots who are members of the club can rent the Navy Flying Club's small planes for personal use, Martin said.
IDENTIFICATION
Regis#: 2611R Make/Model: PA28 Description: PA-28 CHEROKEE, ARROW, WARRIOR, ACHER, D
Date: 12/09/2011 Time: 0000
Event Type: Accident Highest Injury: Fatal Mid Air: N Missing: N
Damage: Unknown
LOCATION
City: WHIDBEY ISLAND NAVAL AIR State: WA Country: US
DESCRIPTION
AIRCRAFT CRASHED UNDER UNKNOWN CIRCUMSTANCES, THE 1 PERSON ON BOARD WAS
FATALLY INJURED, NEAR WHIDBEY ISLAND, WA
INJURY DATA Total Fatal: 1
# Crew: 1 Fat: 1 Ser: 0 Min: 0 Unk:
# Pass: 0 Fat: 0 Ser: 0 Min: 0 Unk:
# Grnd: Fat: 0 Ser: 0 Min: 0 Unk:
WEATHER: KNUW 082356Z 04003KT 10SM SCT022 BKN040 BKN250 04/M01 A3043
OTHER DATA
Activity: Unknown Phase: Unknown Operation: OTHER
FAA FSDO: SEATTLE, WA (NM01) Entry date: 12/09/2011
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