Docket And Docket Items - National Transportation Safety Board: http://dms.ntsb.gov/pubdms
National Transportation Safety Board - Aviation Accident Data Summary: http://app.ntsb.gov/pdf
http://registry.faa.gov/N5577N
NTSB Identification: CEN12LA615
14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Friday, September 07, 2012 in Valley City, ND
Probable Cause Approval Date: 04/10/2013
Aircraft: GOODYEAR F2G, registration: N5577N
Injuries: 1 Fatal.
NTSB investigators may not have traveled in support of this investigation and used data provided by various sources to prepare this aircraft accident report.
Witnesses reported that the pilot completed the initial portion of his airshow practice routine without any apparent difficulties. One witness noted that during those maneuvers, the airplane reached altitudes of about 2,000 feet above ground level (agl). The pilot then executed a four-point roll. The witnesses stated that the airplane pitched up and rolled to the left, as if the pilot were entering a barrel roll. However, the airplane only reached an altitude of about 1,000 feet agl during this maneuver. When the airplane was inverted, the roll stopped, and the airplane pitched down toward the ground. One witness noted that vapor trails were visible from the wing tips during the attempted pull out. The airplane subsequently impacted the ground in a nearly level attitude. The airplane was severely fragmented during the accident sequence and the debris field was extensive. No anomalies consistent with preimpact mechanical failure or malfunction were observed during postaccident examination, but the extent of the impact-related damage to the airframe precluded a complete examination of the flight control system. However, witness statements were consistent with the pilot initiating the final aerobatic maneuver from an altitude that did not allow full recovery of the airplane.
Toxicological tests identified ethanol in the pilot’s tissue samples; however, it is likely that the ethanol detected was due to postmortem production.
The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident to be:
The pilot’s decision to initiate the aerobatic maneuver at an altitude that did not allow for full recovery of the airplane before ground impact.
HISTORY OF FLIGHT
On September 7, 2012, about 1755 central daylight time, a Goodyear F2G Corsair, N5577N, was substantially damaged when it impacted terrain during an aerobatic practice routine at the Barnes County Municipal Airport (BAC), Valley City, North Dakota. The pilot was fatally injured. The aircraft was registered to a private individual and operated by the pilot under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as an air show practice flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight, which was not operated on a flight plan. The flight originated from BAC about 1740.
A witness reported that the practice routine proceeded normally. During the final barrel roll, the airplane pitched to about 10 degrees nose up and rolled left until about 10 degrees past inverted, at which point the roll slowed and ultimately stopped. The airplane then pitched down and started to pull through from a vertical nose down attitude. Vapor trails were visible from both wing tips from about 80 degrees to 40 degrees nose down. At this point the airplane was about 100 feet above ground level. The airplane subsequently impacted the ground in about a 10-degree nose down, wings level attitude.
A second witness reported that there appeared to be no issues with the initial part of the practice routine. During most of those maneuvers, the airplane reached altitudes of 2,000 feet to 2,500 feet above ground level (agl). The maneuver immediately before the accident was a four-point roll from east to west, with a turn back toward the east. While heading back toward show center, the airplane pitched up and rolled to the left, as if the pilot was entering a barrel roll. However, during this maneuver, the airplane only climbed to 1,000 feet to 1,200 feet agl. The airplane was inverted at an altitude of about 1,000 feet agl, on a north heading. At that point, the roll stopped and the airplane “pulled through” until it impacted the ground.
PERSONNEL INFORMATION
The pilot held an airline transport pilot certificate with single- and multi-engine land airplane, single-engine sea airplane, helicopter, and glider ratings. His pilot certificate included type ratings for Cessna 500, Cessna 525, Douglas DC-3, Learjet, and Socata TBM airplanes. He also held pilot and flight instructor authorizations for Chance Vought F4U, Curtis P-40, Mitsubishi A6M, Northrup F-5, North American P-51, North American T-28, Yakovlev Yak-3, and Yakovlev Yak-9 airplanes. His most recent aerobatic competency evaluation (ACE) was completed on December 31, 2012, with an authorization for solo aerobatics. His most recent performance was reportedly on August 26, 1012.
The pilot held a flight instructor certificate with single and multi-engine airplane, and instrument airplane ratings. He held a mechanic certificate with airframe and powerplant ratings, and an inspection authorization. He was issued a second class medical certificate on November 1, 2011, with a restriction for corrective lenses and a waiver for color vision. On the application for that medical certificate, the pilot reported a total flight time of 19,975 hours, with approximately 150 hours within the previous 6 months.
AIRCRAFT INFORMATION
The accident airplane was a restored World War II era fighter airplane. Records indicated that it entered service with the United States Navy in February 1946. It was restored and re-issued an experimental airworthiness certificate for exhibition and air racing purposes in July 2011. Maintenance records indicated that a condition inspection was completed on July 12, 2012. The airplane had accumulated 107.9 hours total time at the time of that inspection.
METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS
The Jamestown Regional Airport (JMS) Automated Surface Observing System, located 27 miles west of BAC, at 1756 recorded conditions as: wind from 330 degrees at 9 knots, 10 miles visibility, clear skies, temperature 18 degrees Celsius, dew point 6 degrees Celsius, and altimeter 30.12 inches of mercury.
WRECKAGE AND IMPACT INFORMATION
Initial ground impact was located about 500 feet from the approach threshold of runway 31; about 90 feet southwest of the edge of the runway. The debris path was about 900 feet long by 200 feet wide, and oriented on a south bearing.
The airframe was fragmented during the impact sequence and a postimpact fire ensued. The engine had separated from the airframe. It came to rest in the debris field, about 450 feet from the initial impact point. Three of the four propeller blades had separated near the blade root and were embedded into the ground at the initial impact point. The fourth propeller blade remained attached to the hub, with the hub remaining attached to the engine.
A postaccident examination of the airplane did not reveal any anomalies consistent with preimpact mechanical failure or malfunction. Damage to the flight control system was consistent with impact forces. However, the extent of the damage to the airframe precluded a complete examination of the flight control system.
MEDICAL AND PATHOLOGICAL INFORMATION
An autopsy of the pilot was conducted on September 10, 2012, at the North Dakota State Forensic Examiners Office in Bismarck, North Dakota. The pilot’s death was attributed to multiple blunt force injuries sustained in the accident.
The FAA Civil Aerospace Medical Institute toxicology report noted:
62 (mg/dL, mg/hg) Ethanol detected in Muscle;
52 (mg/dL, mg/hg) Ethanol detected in Kidney;
24 (mg/dL, mg/hg) Ethanol detected in Lung;
No Ethanol detected in Brain;
N-Propanol detected in Kidney;
N-Propanol detected in Muscle.
No drugs in the screening profile were detected in Liver tissue. The report indicated that the tissue samples were putrefied.
NTSB Identification: CEN12LA615
14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Friday, September 07, 2012 in Valley City, ND
Aircraft: GOODYEAR F2G, registration: N5577N
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 may not have traveled in support of this investigation and used data provided by various sources to prepare this aircraft accident report.
On September 7, 2012, about 1755 central daylight time, a Goodyear F2G Corsair, N5577N, was substantially damaged when it impacted terrain during an aerobatic practice routine at the Barnes County Municipal Airport (BAC), Valley City, North Dakota. The pilot was fatally injured. The aircraft was registered to a private individual and operated by the pilot under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as an air show practice flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight, which was not operated on a flight plan. The flight originated from BAC prior to the practice routine.
A witness reported that the practice routine proceeded normally. During the final barrel roll, the airplane pitched to about 10 degrees nose up and rolled left until about 10 degrees past inverted, at which point the roll slowed and ultimately stopped. The airplane then pitched down and started to pull through from a vertical nose down attitude. Vapor trails were visible from both wing tips from about 80 degrees to 40 degrees nose down. At this point the airplane was about 100 feet above ground level. The airplane subsequently impacted the ground in about a 10-degree nose down, wings level attitude.
Initial ground impact was located about 500 feet from the approach threshold of runway 31, about 100 feet southwest of the edge of the runway. The debris path was oriented on a southerly bearing and was about 450 feet in length. The airplane was fragmented during the impact sequence and a postimpact fire ensued.
The accident airplane was a restored World War II era fighter airplane. Records indicated that it entered service with the United States Navy in February 1946. It was restored and re-issued an experimental airworthiness certificate for exhibition and air racing purposes in July 2011.
VALLEY CITY, N.D. (NewsDakota.com) The Barnes County Municipal Airport is open again following the plane crash that killed pilot Bob Odegaard of Kindred.
Barnes County Airport Authority board member Lori Jury says the board will take several weeks to discuss all options concerning what to do with those who purchased advance tickets. She says save your tickets.
Barnes County Airport Authority Board Chairman Dennis Helland says anyone with photos of the plane in flight, on the ground or during the crash is asked to submit them to Barnes County Airport officials or the Barnes County Sheriff’s office.
66-year-old Bob Odegaard died after his plane crashed practicing his routine for the Wings & Wheels Airshow on Friday.
A Prayer Service for Odegaard will be held today at 7pm at St. Maurice Catholic Church in Kindred. A Funeral Service will be held Wednesday at the church at 2pm.
http://www.newsdakota.com
Famed
North Dakota pilot Bob Odegaard was killed Friday night during a
practice run for an air show here.Odegaard, 66, of Kindred, was renowned for both his skills in the cockpit and for restoring airplanes, and he was an instrumental part of getting the Fargo AirSho – and later the Fargo Air Museum – off the ground.
“I’m kind of stung by it. It’s a shock,” said Dick Walstad, co-chairman of the Fargo air show. “He’s one of those guys where if it had wings, he could fly it.”
Sgt. Troy Hischer of the North Dakota Highway Patrol said the crash, which happened at the Barnes County Municipal Airport about 5:55 p.m., reportedly happened while Odegaard was attempting a barrel roll while practicing for the Valley City show that was set for today but canceled after the fatal crash.
Hischer said authorities aren’t yet sure if the crash was caused by mechanical or human error.
“Something went terribly wrong and he crashed,” the trooper said.
Kris Youle of Sanborn works near the airport and was on break watching the planes practice when the crash happened.
Youle said the plane was doing loops when it slammed into the ground.
“He just didn’t pull up. He went right into the ground,” she said.
Youle said she didn’t notice any smoke or hear any explosions coming from the airplane before the crash.
Larry Welken, vice chairman of the airport’s board of directors, was on the field helping fuel planes when the crash happened.
“It looked like he was possibly trying to get out of the plane, like he knew something was wrong,” said Welken, a pilot for 35 years. “He just plowed into the ground.”
Welken said he didn’t notice any explosions, either, and the only fire was a small one on the ground that was probably ignited by fuel. The Federal Aviation Administration is investigating, he said.
“You couldn’t find a pilot with more experience anywhere. He’s known all over the country,” he said.
Walstad said he was told Odegaard was flying a rebuilt Super Corsair, a rare and superpower WWII-era airplane designed to counter kamikaze attacks.
There were less than 20 ever built, and the only two operating models still in existence were both rebuilt by Odegaard within the last year or so, Walstad said.
“He literally took them from junkyards,” he said.
Walstad said the single-seat Super Corsair was a difficult plane to fly, but he also said Odegaard was “an accomplished, expert pilot.”
Odegaard’s longtime plane-building partner was Gerald Beck, a Wahpeton man who was killed at an air show in Oshkosh, Wis., in 2007. Odegaard owned a company that specialized in wing building, while Beck’s specialized in fuselages.
Beck was killed in a collision with Odegaard’s son, Casey, as they both flew P-51 Mustangs, another single-seat fighter used in WW II and the aircraft with which Odegaard is most closely associated.
“That’s where he got initiated in aircraft restoration,” Walstad said. “He was world renowned, I mean world renowned.”
Walstad said Odegaard – along with Beck, himself and Darrol Schroeder – was one of the four individuals who founded the Fargo Air Museum, helped along by proceeds from the Fargo AirSho, where Odegaard was a mainstay ever since the first year in 1989.
“He was just an absolute sweetheart,” Walstad said. “It’s a huge loss.”
Read more here: http://www.inforum.com
VALLEY CITY, N.D. (AP) — Investigators hope a recovered camera memory card will help them find out what caused an airplane crash that killed a veteran pilot.
Bob Odegaard died Sept. 7 when he crashed his vintage Super Corsair plane while practicing for a Valley City air show.
His plane had a camera attached. Former North Dakota National Guard commander Mike Haugen says searchers found the camera's memory card Wednesday.
Haugen was a longtime friend of Odegaard's, and he helped to look for the card. He says it's been given to federal investigators.
Haugen says the crash probe will take a long time to finish. He says it will include an autopsy and an analysis of the plane's wreckage.
Odegaard was a longtime pilot and airplane rebuilder who owned an aerial spraying business.
The Barnes County Municipal Airport is looking for volunteers on Wednesday to help search for a memory card from a digital camera attached to the plane of Bob Odegaard just before the September 7th crash.
Barnes County Airport Authority Chairman Dennis Helland says anyone with a metal detector with head phones or anyone who wants to volunteer in the search should show up at the airport at 9am Wednesday.
Odegaard died in a plane crash practicing for an air show in Valley City on September 7.
