14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Thursday, July 19, 2012 in Berlin, MD
Aircraft: PIPER PA-18-150, registration: N4330Z
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 July 19, 2012, about 1050 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-18-150, N4330Z, was substantially damaged when it impacted a tree and terrain following a tow banner drop in Berlin, Maryland. The certificated commercial pilot was fatally injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the local flight, which originated at Bunting's Field (4MD1), Berlin, Maryland. The banner tow operation was being conducted under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91.
According to several witnesses, the accident pilot was inbound to drop his first banner of the day and he radioed all three reporting points as he normally would. The southbound drop was also normal; however, instead of subsequently adding power and commencing a right turn per procedures, ground personnel did not hear the addition of power, and the airplane continued straight ahead. It eventually climbed slightly, the left wing dropped, and the airplane entered a left spin. It subsequently descended into a tree, then impacted the ground and immediately caught fire.
Fellow pilots stated that the accident pilot consistently flew correct patterns, that he was considered the most cautious of the group, and that he would radio anytime he felt something was abnormal. However, he did not make any radio calls when the airplane flew straight ahead rather than turn to the right.
The airplane was located next to a lake, at the base of an estimated 80-foot oak tree, in the vicinity of 38 degrees, 21.48 minutes north latitude, 075 degrees, 13.66 minutes west longitude. It came to rest about 185 degrees magnetic, ½ nautical mile from the banner drop.
The airframe was mostly consumed by fire, with primarily tubing and control cables remaining. The airplane was inverted, with the front half sticking up from the ground at an angle of about 60 degrees. Just aft of the single pilot seat, the fuselage was bent over to where it was upside-down, and the compressed tail rested against the ground. Some of the tubing on the airplane's right side, in the area of the bending, was completely separated with jagged edges.
All flight control surfaces were accounted for at the scene. Flight control continuity was confirmed from the control stick and the rudder pedals to their respective control surfaces, except that the right rudder cable was separated, and appeared to be cut in the vicinity of where the airframe tubing was separated with jagged edges.
The engine was fire-damaged, and its condition at the site precluded confirmation of crankshaft continuity. The metal propeller, which was recovered from the lake, exhibited torsional bending, with 90-degree bending near one end, and multiple bends and chordwise scratching on the other end. Approximately 25 feet of main tree trunk was separated from the top of the oak tree, with about 80 percent of the estimated 12-inch-diameter trunk having been cut at a 45-degree angle. Propeller blade torsional bending and 45-degree tree cuts are consistent with the presence of engine power at the time of impact.
Garett lived life to its fullest. He knew where he wanted to go, and never slowed down or allowed obstacles to prevent him from getting there. He packed a lot of living in his 23 short years. He graduated from North Dorchester High School in 2007 and attended college at West Virginia University. From 2010-2012, he attended flight training in Salisbury, MD, Kent Aviation in Virginia, and Flying Tigers Aviation in Louisiana. Upon completion, he obtained his private and commercial pilot licenses. Garett loved flying. He was a natural-born pilot.
Garett had an extensive knowledge of wildlife and trapping. He started trapping at a very early age. He was associated with the Maryland Trappers Association and enjoyed teaching children and adults the art of trapping. Garett also started farming as a young boy and spent as much time as he could working on his best friend's farm.
Garett was a very lovable and caring person, who was admired and loved by his extensive family and many friends.
Garett is survived by his wife, Taylor Colona; his father, Robert C. Colona; his mother, Tracy A. Tull; his grandparents, Robert and Shirley Colona, and Donald and Leona Tull; his in-laws, Karen, Rick, Tyler, and Morgan Burns; and his many extended family members.
Taylor, the love of his life, is in the Air Force. They were married April 8, 2011 and shared a home in Aviano Italy, where she has been stationed since July, 2011. Garett returned to the United States in April, 2012 to begin his career as a pilot. He was working for Ocean Aerial Ads, Inc. and would have soon realized his goal of crop dusting. Garett's dream was to combine his passions for flying and farming. He would have rejoined his wife in Italy in September until he would come back to the States to fly again for the summer.
Garett was beloved by all who knew him. He will be greatly missed by his family and many friends.
A gathering of family and friends will be held at the Cross Pointe Church of the Nazarene, 27765 Nanticoke Rd., Salisbury, MD on Thursday, July 26, at 4 pm. A memorial worship service will also be held at Christ Lutheran Church, Shipley St., Seaford, DE, on July 28, 2 pm. Following the service on July 26, there will be a catered celebration at the Goslee's Farm, 5436 Galestown Newhart Mill Rd., Sharptown MD 21861.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests contributions be made to the Maryland Fur Trappers Inc at 2919 Chestnut Grove, Keedyville, MD 21756. People making donations should make a note that it's in memory of Garett Colona or to Mercy Medical Airlift and go to Angelflightmidatlantic.org for donation options.
Arrangements are in the care of
Holloway Funeral Home
501 Snow Hill Rd.
Salisbury, Maryland 21804
To send condolences to the family please visit
www.hollowayfh.com
Obituary and photo: http://www.legacy.com
No comments:
Post a Comment