14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Wednesday, February 08, 2012 in Frankston, TX
Aircraft: VARGA AIRCRAFT CORP. 2150A, registration: N8293J
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 February 8, 2012, approximately 1200 central daylight time, a Varga 2150 airplane, N8293J, impacted Lake Palestine, while approaching the Aero Estates Airport (T25), Frankston, Texas. The private rated pilot, sole occupant, was fatality injured. The airplane was registered to and operated by a private individual under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal cross-country flight. Visual flight rules (VFR) meteorological conditions prevailed and a VFR flight plan was not filed. The flight originated from the Cherokee County Airport (JSO), Jacksonville, Texas.
Initial reports indicate that the pilot departed T25 earlier in the day, with the intent of refueling the airplane. Fuel records at JSO reveal that the accident pilot received about 17 gallons of fuel, and then was seen departing the airport, headed north. When the pilot did not return home, an ALNOT (Alert Notice) for a missing aircraft was issued, and a search was initiated. The airplane was located on 9 February, just off shore of Lake Palestine, in approximately 18 feet of water. The pilot was not located until 10 February.
Once the airplane was retrieved from the lake, the National Transportation Safety Board Investigator-In-Charge (IIC), and inspectors from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), examined the airplane wreckage on site. The airplane’s canopy was found locked in the open position and the pilot’s seat belts were unlatched. Additionally, the exam revealed that the fuel shut-off valves and ignition switch were in the “OFF” position, the battery and avionics switches were also in the off position. A visual examination of the airplane and engine revealed relatively minor damage to the airplane, and no visual discrepancies with the engine.
The wreckage was retained for further examination.
Fred Scholz
Fredrick Scholz, 85, of West Brooklyn died Feb. 11, 2012 near Tyler, Texas.
A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Feb. 25 at the Merritt Funeral Home, Mendota with Rev. Dale Peterson officiating. Visitation will be for one hour prior to services on Saturday at the funeral home.
Mr. Scholz was born July 18, 1926 in Chicago to Peter and Rosa (Hoelzl) Scholz. He married Dotti Jones on Aug. 18, 1984 in Wheaton.
Survivors include his wife of West Brooklyn; two daughters, Holly Scholz of Aurora and Diane (Bill Kircher) Scholz of Naperville; one stepson, Matthew Galbraith of Batavia; three stepdaughters, Holly (Ronnie) Hester of Roanoke, Texas, Julie (David) Lowry of Oswego and Susan (Bruce) Colwell of Roselle; 10 grandchildren; one great granddaughter; and one sister, Betty (Larry) Green of Hudson, Fla.
He was preceded in death by two sisters, Billie Gruetter and Rosemary Lach.
Mr. Scholz served with the U.S. Navy on the USS Humphries in the Pacific from 1944-45. He worked in real estate from 1954-1977 and was involved with the Naperville Chamber of Commerce, the DuPage Board of Realtors and served on the board of directors of Washington Bank. In 1977, he purchased a manufacturing business in Chicago and later moved it to Downers Grove. His passion was for flying and working on airplanes and helping others during his years at Naper Aero Estates, LaCholla AirPark in Arizona and the last three winters at Aero Estates in East Texas. In 1995, he moved to a farm in West Brooklyn fulfilling a lifelong dream of owning a farm and having his own grass runway. He attracted many stray animals over the years and found homes for several pets. He also loved nature and planted hundreds of trees over the years.
Memorials may be directed to the family for a memorial to be given in Fred’s honor to search and rescue organizations in Texas.
FAA IDENTIFICATION
Regis#: 8293J Make/Model: MOR2 Description: 2150 KACHINA
Date: 02/09/2012 Time: 0038
Event Type: Accident Highest Injury: Fatal Mid Air: N Missing: N
Damage: Unknown
LOCATION
City: FRANKSTON State: TX Country: US
DESCRIPTION
AIRCRAFT CRASHED INTO LAKE PALESTINE NEAR FRANKSTON, TX/ UPDATE: THE 1
PERSON ON BOARD WAS FATALLY INJURED
INJURY DATA Total Fatal: 1
# Crew: 1 Fat: 1 Ser: 0 Min: 0 Unk: 0
# Pass: 0 Fat: 0 Ser: 0 Min: 0 Unk:
# Grnd: Fat: 0 Ser: 0 Min: 0 Unk:
OTHER DATA
Activity: Unknown Phase: Unknown Operation: OTHER
FAA FSDO: DALLAS, TX (SW05) Entry date: 02/10/2012 #
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