National Transportation Safety Board - Aviation Accident Final Report: http://app.ntsb.gov/pdf
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/N9DM
NTSB Identification: CEN12FA290
14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Friday, May 11, 2012 in Chanute, KS
Probable Cause Approval Date: 09/05/2013
Aircraft: CESSNA 401, registration: N9DM
Injuries: 4 Fatal,1 Serious.
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.
While en route to the destination airport, the pilot turned on the cabin heater and, afterward, an unusual smell was detected by the occupants and the ambient air temperature increased. When the pilot turned the heater off, dark smoke entered the cabin and obscured the occupants' vision. The smoke likely interfered with the pilot’s ability to identify a safe landing site. During the subsequent emergency landing attempt to a field, the airplane’s wing contacted the ground and the airplane cartwheeled. Examination of the airplane found several leaks around weld points on the combustion chamber of the heater unit. A review of logbook entries revealed that the heater was documented as inoperative during the most recent annual inspection. Although a work order indicated that maintenance work was completed at a later date, there was no logbook entry that returned the heater to service. There were no entries in the maintenance logbooks that documented any testing of the heater or tracking of the heater's hours of operation. A flight instructor who flew with the pilot previously stated that the pilot used the heater on the accident airplane at least once before the accident flight. The heater’s overheat warning light activated during that flight, and the heater shut down without incident. The flight instructor showed the pilot how to reset the overheat circuit breaker but did not follow up on its status during their instruction. There is no evidence that a mechanic examined the airplane before the accident flight. Regarding the overheat warning light, the airplane flight manual states that the heater “should be thoroughly checked to determine the reason for the malfunction” before the overheat switch is reset. The pilot’s use of the heater on the accident flight suggests that he did not understand its status and risk of its continued use without verifying that it had been thoroughly checked as outlined in the airplane flight manual. A review of applicable airworthiness directives found that, in comparison with similar combustion heater units, there is no calendar time limit that would require periodic inspection of the accident unit. In addition, there is no guidance or instruction to disable the heater such that it could no longer be activated in the airplane if the heater was not airworthy.
The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident to be:
The malfunction of the cabin heater, which resulted in an inflight fire and smoke in the airplane. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s lack of understanding concerning the status of the airplane's heater system following and earlier overheat event and risk of its continued use. Also contributing were the inadequate inspection criteria for the cabin heater.
HISTORY OF FLIGHT
On May 11, 2012, approximately 1630 central daylight time, a Cessna 401 airplane, N9DM, collided with terrain near Chanute, Kansas. A post crash fire ensued. The commercial pilot and three passengers were fatally injured. One passenger was seriously injured. The airplane was substantially damaged. The airplane was registered to DRDJ Sales and operated by the pilot under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91, as a personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight which operated on an instrument flight rules plan. The cross-country flight departed the Richard Lloyd Jones Jr. Airport (RVS), Tulsa, Oklahoma, approximately 1545, for the Council Bluffs Municipal Airport (CBF), Council Bluffs, Iowa.
The survivor of the accident provided a written statement of the accident. She reported that when the pilot turned on the heater, a “terrible smell” was detected. The pilot told the passengers that the smell was normal for some heaters. When the pilot turned the heater off, dark, black smoke began to enter the airplane, which made it difficult to see. In an attempt to extinguish the fire, they poured water bottles in the vents, which had not effect. The pilot quickly descended. During the emergency landing, the pilot attempted to pull up, but the wing tip hit the ground first. The passenger thought the airplane rolled as it hit the ground. Another passenger assisted her in egressing from the airplane, but that survivor later succumbed to his injuries.
PERSONNEL INFORMATION
The pilot, age 23, held a commercial pilot certificate with airplane single engine land, airplane multiengine land, and instrument airplane ratings. On June 28, 2011, a first class medical certificate was issued with the restriction “not valid for night flying or by color signal control.” At the time of the pilot’s application for a medical certificate he reported accumulating 600 total hours, with 50 logged in the preceding 6 months. On June 27, 2010, the pilot had applied for his commercial pilot certificate and on that application he reported 392.8 hour of total time. The pilot’s logbook was not located during the course of the investigation.
AIRCRAFT INFORMATION
The multi-engine airplane, N9DM, serial number 401-0123, was manufactured in 1967. It was powered by two turbo-charged, fuel injected, 300-horsepower, TSIO-520-E engines. Each engine drove a metal, 3-blade propeller. According to the airplane’s logbooks, the last annual inspection was accomplished on January 15, 2012, at a Hobbs time of 2,455.5 hours. This inspection had a remark, “heater is inop[erative].” A sales advertisement, dated January 8, 2012, listed the airframe’s total time as 4,819 hours. Including the time the pilot flew for his insurance requirements, the airframe had accumulated at least 4,831 hours.
METEOROLOGICAL INFORMATION
At 1652, an automated weather reporting facility located at the Chanute-Martin Johnson Airport (KCNU), Chanute, Kansas, 6 nautical miles east of the accident site, reported wind from 180 degrees at 4 knots, visibility 10 miles, a broken ceiling at 11,000 feet, temperature 21 degrees Celsius (C), dew point 15 C, and a barometric pressure of 30.07 inches of mercury.
COMMUNICATIONS
The pilot was under radar and radio contact with Kansas City Air Route Traffic Control Center (ARTCC) and at 1606 reported that the airplane was level at 10,000 feet. The pilot requested and was approved to proceed direct to CBF. At 1624, the pilot requested a descent from 10,000 to 8,000 to “get out of the clouds and turbulence,” which was approved. ARTCC then issued a frequency change which was acknowledged by the pilot. The pilot did not make radio contact with the next controller, and there were no further communications with the pilot. In addition, no distress calls were heard by ARTCC controllers or other pilots on either ARTCC frequency.
WRECKAGE AND IMPACT INFORMATION
The accident site was in a line of trees between a grass field and a corn field. The debris path was aligned along a 277 degree magnetic heading. The first impact point was a narrow ground scar consistent with a wing tip strike. Near the impact point was a portion of the right wing tip. About 88 feet down the wreckage path were two ground scars of varying lengths. No other ground scars were found leading to the main wreckage.
The main wreckage came to reset in a tree line about 162 feet from the initial impact scar, in the upright position, facing east. A post-crash fire had consumed a majority of the fuselage. All of the airframe’s flight control surfaces were accounted for at the accident site.
The left wing remained attached to the fuselage. However, just outboard of the engine nacelle, the wing was torn and fragmented. The left engine separated from the nacelle and was located behind the left wing. The right wing remained attached to the fuselage and was crushed rearward and folded along its length. The outboard portion of the wing was bent upward and twisted rearward. The right engine had separated from its nacelle and was located 105 feet west of the main wreckage.
The vertical stabilizer was torn and twisted. The rudder was torn and separated from the vertical stabilizer, but remained attached to the fuselage via the control cables. The vertical stabilizer and elevator had separated from the empennage and were beneath the tail portion of the airplane. Flight control continuity was established to all flight controls.
The flaps were set to 15 degrees. The landing gear was in the retracted position. Portions of acrylic glass from the forward wind screens were found east of the wreckage in an area not exposed to the post-crash fire. These portions of acrylic glass contained soot on the cabin side surface. The cockpit gauges were impact and thermally damaged and did not convey reliable information. Both fuel selector valves were examined and found in the OFF position.
The left propeller had separated from the propeller hub and was found near the right wing. All three blades were relatively straight with one blade bent rearward near its mid-span. All three blades had soil and debris on the blade tips. The right propeller remained attached to the propeller hub. All three blades displayed leading edge polishing and damage near the blade tips. The blades were labeled A, B, and C, for documentation purposes only. Blade A was bent rearward just outboard of the blade root and bent forward near its 2/3 span. Blade B was bent forward towards the cambered side. Blade C was curled towards the cambered side near its mid-span.
MEDICAL AND PATHOLOGICAL INFORMATION
An autopsy was performed on the pilot as authorized by the Wilson County Coroner’s Office. The cause of death was a result of thermal injuries. The autopsy found no indication of physical or toxicological impairment.
Forensic toxicology was performed on specimens from the pilot by the FAA Bioaeronautical Sciences Research Laboratory, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. A reading of 12% carbon monoxide was detected in the pilot’s blood. Testing did not detect the presence of cyanide, ethanol, or other tested substances.
TEST AND RESEARCH
Engine runs
Both engines were shipped to Continental Motors Inc., Mobile, Alabama. Under the auspices of the NTSB, the engines were examined and prepped for engine runs. Each engine started and produced rated horsepower. No preimpact anomalies were detected with either engine.
Airplane Heater
The airplane was equipped with a South Wind 8259GL-1 combustion heater, serial number 388, which was last overhauled on February 11, 1994. Airplane logbooks recorded the heater’s installation on October 17, 1996, with a heater Hobbs time of 126.4 hours and Airworthiness Directive (AD) 81-09-09 accomplished. A review of the logbook did not find any additional entries for heater Hobbs time or compliance with AD 81-09-09.
On January 6, 2011, an annual inspection was accomplished and the heater was mistakenly identified as a Janitrol heater. This entry listed the heater as inoperative. A work order, dated February 9, 2011, described work performed on the heater: “Troubleshoot cabin heater. Found that cause of no fuel to fuel pump was due to no electrical power to fuel safety valve. Found stuck airflow switch, cleaned and heater operated normally.” There was not a log book entry that returned the heater to service. In addition, there was no evidence that a pressure decay test was accomplished. The heater Hobbs was destroyed in the accident and the heater’s hours could not be verified.
For insurance purposes, the pilot was required to fly with a certificated flight instructor (CFI) for at least 12 hours to obtain familiarization in the airplane make and model. In a telephone interview with the CFI, he recalled that during a flight on April 25, 2012, the heater’s overheat light illuminated shortly after they activated the heater. The heater shut down and no smoke or fumes were detected by the flight crew, so they continued to their destination. At the destination, the CFI demonstrated to the pilot how to reset the circuit breaker. He stated that they performed the return flight without utilizing the heater. Although they flew at least one additional flight on May 2, the CFI did not know any further information about the heater. The pilot’s father (a retired airline pilot) had flown with the pilot on May 6, in the accident airplane. He did not recall any placard on the heater and the pilot had not mentioned any problems with the heater to his father. Fire damage to the heater switch area prevented an evaluation of any placards.
Cessna’s Model 401 Owner’s Manual states that when the overheat warning light is illuminated, the heater overheat switch has been actuated and the temperature of the air in the heater has exceeded 325 degrees Fahrenheit. Once the heater switch is actuated, the heater turns off and cannot be restarted until the overheat switch, located in the right forward nose compartment, has been reset. Prior to having the overheat switch reset, the heater should be thoroughly checked to determine the reason for the malfunction.
There is no record of work being accomplished on the accident airplane after the overheat light had illuminated. Neither of the airplane’s home airfield repair shops performed work on the accident airplane. The fixed base operator did not recall seeing any personnel performing work on the airplane in the days preceding the accident.
Cessna’s service manual for the Cessna 401 listed the causes of “heater trips over heat switch” as a defective overheat switch or insufficient vent air and a defective duct limit switch. The corrective action is to replace the overheat switch or replace the duct limit switch and increase the air rate, respectively.
South Wind Heater exam
The heater was examined at Cessna Aircraft Company under the auspices of the NTSB and FAA. The heater displayed signatures of thermal damage. When the igniter housing assembly was removed, thermal damage was noted to the ignition unit and spark plug. The spark plug displayed heavy sooting. The heater’s shroud was removed and the duct limit switch was found to be misaligned. Discoloration on the switch surface suggested a misalignment prior to heat discoloring the metal. The combustion chamber’s interior was heavily sooted and contained several large pieces of carbon deposits and debris. The heater was reassembled with and sealed through the use of a general sealant. Attempts to perform a pressure decay test were unsuccessful. Utilizing a soap and water mixture and pressurization, at least four portions of the combustion chamber displayed signs of leaks. At least three leaks existed on welded joints and one leak around the igniter tip.
Compliance with Airworthiness Directive (AD) 81-09-09
After compliance with AD 81-09-09, the heater is required to be inspected every 250 hours of use and overhauled every 1,000 hours. Unlike comparable combustion heaters, there is no calendar time limits which would require an inspection. If the inspection is not completed or the heater is inoperative, there is no guidance in the AD to disable the heater in a manner that it can no longer be activated in airplane. In contrast, a similar heater’s AD requires a visual inspection every 100 hours or 1 year. That AD also provides steps to disable the heater in a manner that it can no longer be used, if the heater fails inspection or as an alternate compliance to the AD.
NTSB Identification: CEN12FA290
14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Friday, May 11, 2012 in Chanute, KS
Aircraft: CESSNA 401, registration: N9DM
Injuries: 4 Fatal,1 Serious.
On May 11, 2012, approximately 1630 central daylight time, a Cessna 401 airplane, N9DM, was substantially damaged upon impact with terrain near Chanute, Kansas. The commercial pilot and three passengers were fatally injured. One passenger was seriously 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 flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight which operated on an instrument flight plan. The cross-country flight departed the Richard Lloyd Jones Jr. Airport (RVS), Tulsa, Oklahoma, approximately 1545, for the Council Bluffs Municipal Airport (CBF), Council Bluffs, Iowa.
Initial reports indicate that the pilot received air traffic control services and had requested to descend from 10,000 feet mean sea level (msl) to 8,000 feet msl. There were no further radio communications between the pilot and air traffic control, nor were there any distress calls by the pilot.
The accident site was located in a tree line, between a grass field and a corn field. The wreckage path’s initial impact point was a ground scar consistent with a ground contact by the right wing tip, followed by signatures of additional ground impacts, before the airplane collided with a large tree. A post crash fire ensured. All major airplane components were accounted for at the accident scene.
The wreckage was retained for further examination.
To honor the lives of the four men who gave their lives in
pursuit of sharing the gospel with the young generation, the families of
Austin Anderson, Garret Coble, Stephen Luth and Luke Sheets are asking
that in lieu of flowers, memorials be made in honor of these men.
A memorial ensures that the legacy of these men carry on and that
many more lives can be touched by their testimony. If you are interested
in making a memorial for Garrett, Luke, Stephen or Austin, you’ll find
the information on how to do that below:
Austin Anderson
Austin’s Memorial Fund is set up at the Anderson Burris Funeral Home,
which is serving as the custodian for it at this time. Cash or checks
made out to the Oral Roberts University Veterans Scholarship may be sent
to 3002 N. Van Buren, Enid, OK 73703
Garrett Coble
The Coble family has arranged a memorial fund in Garrett’s name at Bank
of America In Tulsa. Memorial gifts will be designated to the El Nino
Emanuel orphanage in Peru.
Stephen Luth
The Stephen J. Luth Memorial Fund has been established at the Central
State Bank in Muscatine, Iowa. Donations may be made in his name by cash
or check. Please include the account number on the check: 7264054.
Checks may be mailed to Central State Bank, 301 Iowa Avenue, Muscatine,
IA 52761. The bank’s phone number is 563-263-3131.
Luke Sheets
The Sheets family is asking that memorials be made to one of
three designated place. A memorial fund has been established at North
Shore Bank. Cash and checks made out to the Luke Sheets Memorial Fund
may be sent to 2614 S. Bayshore Dr., Sister Bay, WI 54234. The phone
number for North Shore Bank is 920-854-2381.
The Sheets family is also asking that memorials be sent to the Oral
Roberts University Department of Missions. Checks may be mailed to Oral
Roberts University – Attn: President’s Office, 7777 S. Lewis Ave.,
Tulsa, OK 74171 (Luke Sheets Memorial / Missions).
Additionally, the Sheets family is requesting memorials be made in
Luke’s name to Teen Mania Ministries. Donations may be made online at
www.TeenMania.com.
Source: http://www.teenmania.com
By Jennifer Horn
Last Friday, a man named Austin Anderson did something so
extraordinary that it sounds like a major motion picture, but was in
fact heartbreakingly real.
After surviving a fiery plane crash in Kansas in which three of the
five passengers died instantly, Anderson, a 27-year-old Marine who
served two tours of duty in Iraq,
crawled into the burning fuselage to drag 22-year-old Hannah Luce to safety.
Anderson guided Luce to a nearby road, where a passerby called for
help. Marine, Christian, son and friend Austin Anderson later died from
burns sustained while rescuing Luce.
We live in a world where we toss around the word
“hero” with ease,
assigning the title to everyone from spoiled protesters to rich
celebrities who fly in private jets to put their names on charitable
efforts. There are many good people in this world who do good things,
but there must be a word that distinguishes between “climate activist”
and Austin Anderson.
Anderson had recently taken a job working with a Christian
organization that reaches out to teens. After years serving his country
in the Marine Corps, he had dedicated the next phase of his life to
serving his God. This man, and all who die so that others may live,
deserve a category, a word, all their own.
I suppose one could ask what any of this has to do with politics. I
don’t know – maybe nothing. Or maybe everything. There are no heroes in
politics. Our military, police officers and firefighters understand
courage and service in a way that our politicians seem completely
oblivious to.
Anderson knew something, deep in heart, that most of us can not
contemplate; he lived a life of faith and valor combined. While probably
no more perfect than anyone else, he understood something about a life
worth living – about a life worth giving – that the ordinary among us
can’t even articulate.
It is said that courage is fear that has said its prayers; Anderson
and others like him understood this. Austin Anderson is not an example
of what just anyone could be… he is an example of what, even in our
wildest imaginations, we could only hope to be.
Source: http://concord-nh.patch.com
Jennifer Horn was the 2008 Republican nominee for U.S. Congress in New Hampshire's 2nd District. She has been an award-winning radio talk show host, newspaper columnist and small business owner. She is a long-time advocate for breast cancer research and support and lives in Nashua with her husband and five children. She has endorsed Gov. Mitt Romney in the 2012 Presidential election.
ENID — Austin G. Anderson, 27, passed away Saturday morning, May 12, 2012, at St. Francis Hospital in Wichita, Kan. Austin was born Feb. 6, 1985, to Monte Grey and Mary Frances Anderson.
Austin graduated from Ringwood High School in 2003, where he excelled in football, making the 8-man All-Star Team.
Following graduation, he joined the U.S. Marine Reserves and served two tours in Iraq. In 2012, Austin was pinned Staff Sergeant Anderson in Washington, D.C., and was later honorably discharged after eight years of dedicated military service.
Austin accomplished a life goal of graduating from Oral Roberts University on May 5, 2012, with a bachelor’s degree in business administration.
Immediately after graduating, Austin began his dream career at Teen Mania Ministries in Tyler, Texas, as Head of Operations and Marketing. Austin was a dedicated member of Faith Center Fellowship, the church founded by Austin’s father.
While serving Teen Mania Ministries, Austin’s plane went down north of Wichita, Kan. Austin was one of two survivors of the accident and was able to heroically carry the other survivor from the scene of the accident. Once a Marine, always a Marine.
All who know Austin will forever profess of his inspiration to others to find purpose in life and strive to help all those in need. His favorite movie line quotes, “Every man dies, but not every man truly lives,” and Austin is one of the few that truly lived for each day.
Austin is survived by his fiancée and love of his life, Elizabeth Thaxton; his mother, Mary Anderson; brother, Aubrey James; sister, Allie Joy; grandparents, Don “Papa” and Carrol Ann “Annie” Anderson; grandmother, Edna Parker and husband Neil; and many extended family.
Proceeding in death is Austin’s father, Monte Grey Anderson; uncle, H.O. Scott; and grandfather, Don Steidl.
The celebration service will be 2 p.m. Wednesday, May 16, 2012, at Emmanuel Baptist Church in Enid, Okla. Arrangements by Anderson-Burris Funeral Home.
Memorials are to ORU Veterans Scholarship.
Condolences online at www.andersonburris.com.
Contributed photo
Stephen Luth is seen here on May 5 during his graduation ceremony at Oral Roberts University in Tulsa, Okla.
A plane crash may have robbed Cyndi Luth of her son, but not of her belief that they will meet again
MUSCATINE,
Iowa — On May 5, Cyndi Luth and her husband, David, had much to
celebrate as they gathered with family for their son Stephen Luth’s
graduation from Oral Roberts University in Tulsa.
Days later, she learned that family reunion would be their last — at least for now.
Stephen and three other people died when the plane they were in crashed around 4:30 p.m. Friday, northwest of Chanute, Kan.
Cyndi, who received the news late Friday, said the Christian faith she and her family share gives her hope.
“I
feel like King David when his son died,” said Cyndi, referring to King
David of the Old Testament whose prayers were not answered when he
asked that God spare his infant son’s life.
After his
son died, King David got up, washed and got dressed, which came as a
surprise to those who had seen him spend days praying and grieving.
“David told them, ‘My son is dead and he cannot come to me,’” Cyndi said.
“‘But I can go to him.’”
On
Sunday, her first Mother’s Day without Stephen since his birth
22-years ago, Cyndi said that when she thinks of her outgoing,
well-liked son, that same thought, knowing they will meet in heaven one
day, helps her deal with her grief.
Funeral services for Stephen Luth are pending with the Ralph J. Wittich Riley Freers Funeral Home in Muscatine.
The
plane trip Stephen took Friday was to a Christian youth rally, Acquire
the Fire, in Council Bluffs, organized by Teen Mania Ministries.
“It was a youth ministry event organized by his new employer,” said Cyndi.
Stephen was looking forward to beginning his new job today as marketing director with the Texas company.
The
others who died in the crash were pilot Luke Sheets, 23, of Ephraim,
Wis.; Austin Anderson, 27, of Ringwood, Okla. and Garrett Coble, 29, of
Tulsa.
Hanna Luce, 22, of Garden Valley, Texas, was
critically injured and admitted to the University of Kansas Medical
Center in Kansas City, Kan.
Cyndi said reading
Stephen’s Facebook page is a great comfort to she and David Luth, and
their sons, Joshua Luth, 26, Jonathan Luth, 24, and James Luth, 19.
“The
comments and testimonials have been a great blessing,” said Cyndi. The
Luths left the following statement on Stephen’s Facebook page:
“To
all, thank you for such wonderful testimonies of how our son has
touched your lives. Please pray for us as it’s our hearts desire to
tell Stephen’s story, “Make No Small Plans Here,” and to celebrate his
zeal for life.”
Stephen, a member of the Oral Roberts
University cheer team and a campus chaplain, made many friends during
his four years at Oral Roberts.
“There were things we
didn’t know,” said Cyndi. “One person wrote, ‘I’m graduating from
nursing school. Thank you.’ Another said, ‘You talked me out of
committing suicide.’”
Stephen, a 2008 Muscatine High School graduate, also had many friends here, the town where he was born and raised, said Cyndi.
“He
was in the youth group at Calvary Church and the captain for the MHS
cross-country team,” said Cyndi. “He worked at Fareway in the meat
department and a lot of people knew him from there.”
Stephen was Cyndi and David’s third son to graduate from Oral Roberts University.
Joshua’s
bachelor’s degree is in business management, and Jonathan’s is in
mechanical engineering. Joshua and wife Britney, and Jonathan and wife
Jennifer all live in Tulsa.
James Luth is a freshman at Oral Roberts.
Cyndi said her family knows they can face the future without Stephen, because of their faith.
“It
would be impossible otherwise,” she said. “It’s a big hole and we’ll
just have to let it be hard to fill as we move forward.”
Funeral Information for Garrett Coble
A
memorial service and celebration of Garrett’s life will be held at 2
p.m. Thursday, May 17 at the Chapel at Oral Roberts University under
the direction of Integrity Funeral Services.
In
honor of Garrett’s continued commitment to missions, the Coble family
as designated the El Nino Emanuel orphanage in Peru for memorial
contributions in Garrett’s name. A fund has been established at Bank of
America in Tulsa for donations.
Please keep the Coble family in your thoughts and prayers.
– A small airplane that crashed in southeast Kansas was carrying five people with connections to Oral Roberts University to a Christian youth rally in Iowa, a friend of three of the victims said Saturday.
The Kansas Highway Patrol reported that four of the passengers died in Friday's crash and one was badly injured. Those killed were identified Saturday as pilot Luke Sheets, 23, of Ephraim, Wis.; Austin Anderson, 27, of Ringwood, Okla.; Garrett Coble, 29, of Tulsa, Okla.; and Stephen Luth, 22, of Muscatine, Iowa.
Hannah Luce, 22, of Garden Valley, Texas, was critically injured and admitted to the University of Kansas Medical Center in Kansas City, Kan. Luce, a recent Oral Roberts graduate, is the daughter of Ron Luce, a trustee at the school and the founder of Teen Mania Ministries, which was sponsoring this weekend's Acquire the Fire rally in Council Bluffs, Iowa.
The National Transportation Safety Board said the twin-engine Cessna 401 went down around 4:30 p.m. Friday northwest of Chanute, Kan. NTSB spokesman Peter Knudson said the eight-seat plane caught fire after the crash.
"The plane lost contact with air traffic control after getting permission to descend to a lower altitude," Knudson said. "After that, there was no further communication."
Brooke Ninowski, who recently graduated from Oral Roberts, said she had been friends with Anderson for about two years — he was her brother's roommate for a semester. She said they also had a few classes together.
Ninowski said she also knew Luth and Sheets through school, noting that Luth had dated one of her best friends.
"They were guys who stuck to their morals and it showed through their character, and how they treated people," she said. "They thought of others first. I don't know if the reports are true about Austin, that he might have pulled Hannah out of the wreckage, but that wouldn't surprise me in any way."
Sheets, Coble and Luth were killed at the scene, while Anderson died at a hospital in Wichita just before 5 a.m. Saturday, the Kansas Highway Patrol said.
"They were going to an Acquire the Fire event run by Teen Mania Ministries," she said. "They're put on in various cities, Christian youth rallies where young people come together and learn about God."
On Saturday, Oral Roberts President Mark Rutland issued a statement asking the university community to pray for Luce and remember those who were killed. He said Luth, Sheets and Anderson were recent graduates, and Coble was a former business instructor at the school.
"The entire ORU community grieves for the families of the ORU graduates who lost their lives in this tragic plane accident," Rutland said. "May God grant them peace and they reflect on the precious lives that were so dear to their hearts. We continue to pray for those who are recovering."
The following message from the website..
Teen Mania Friends and Family:
We are sad to announce that five individuals on board a flight to Acquire The Fire in Council Bluffs, Iowa were involved in a plane crash around 4:30 yesterday afternoon. The plane went down in rural southeastern Kansas, and three of the five on board died at the scene. Please be in prayer for the families of Luke Sheets, Garrett Coble, and Stephen Luth, who went to be with the Lord yesterday.
Hannah Luce and Austin Anderson were also onboard the plane when it crashed and were able to walk to a nearby roadway and get help. However, both Hannah and Austin suffered severe injuries and were life-flighted to hospitals in Kansas City and Wichita, respectively. Hannah is listed in serious but stable condition, suffering primarily from burns on 28 percent of her body. Sadly, Austin succumbed to his injuries at 5:30 this morning and went to be with the Lord.
The entire Teen Mania family is mourning the loss of four young lives who were full of so much promise and love for God. All were friends of Teen Mania, and two of them, Austin and Stephen, were newly hired to Teen Mania’s staff to join our marketing team. Please pray that God surrounds the families of Austin, Stephen, Luke and Garrett with His love and peace in this extremely difficult time.
Please also hold up Hannah and the Luce family in your prayers as she continues to recover from her injuries. Ask that God give Hannah strength and healing, and that He also surround her parents, brother and sister with His peace and love.
Thank you all for your thoughts, prayers and words of encouragement!
Above message from the website
Garrett Coble
Tulsa man killed in plane crash
Photo of the actual plane
Scene of SE Kansas plane crash
Three students who graduated from Oral Roberts University last week were among four people who died in a plane crash Friday afternoon in southeastern Kansas.
A fifth person, also an ORU graduate, was injured in the crash of a twin-engine Cessna that departed from Jones Riverside Airport in Jenks carrying five passengers, all of whom had connections to the Tulsa university.
Garrett Coble, 29, of Tulsa, Luke Sheets, 23, of Ephraim, Wisc., and Stephen Luth, 22, of Muscatine, Iowa were killed when the 1991 twin-engine plane went down in a field nine miles west of Chanute, Kan., about 4:30 p.m., according to a report from the Kansas Highway Patrol.
Austin Anderson, 27, of Ringwood and, Hannah Luce, 22, of Golden Valley, Texas, were hospitalized.
Anderson later died at Via Christi St. Francis hospital in Wichita, Kan.
Sheets, Luth and Anderson graduated from ORU last Saturday. Luce had graduated previously, according to the university.
Coble, an assistant professor of marketing at Northeastern State University – Broken Arrow, previously taught at ORU.
The plane took off from Jones Riverside Airport around 3:45 p.m. and was bound for Council Bluffs, Iowa, according to the Kansas Highway Patrol. It skidded about 200 feet before impacting a tree line, according to a report.
According to a source familiar with the situation but who wished to remain anonymous, the passengers were heading to an Acquire the Fire Christian youth rally in Council Bluffs this weekend.
The founder of the event is Ron Luce, a member of the ORU board of trustees and father of Hannah Luce.
The plane was piloted by Sheets, who was living in Tulsa.
His father was a commercial airline pilot and Sheets would often spend Friday afternoons making medical support flights.
According to a statement released on the ORU Facebook site ORU President Dr. Mark Rutland said:
”There was a tragic plane crash in southern Kansas yesterday and five people with connections to ORU were involved in the accident.
Stephen Luth, Luke Sheets, and Austin Anderson, all three recent graduates, and Garret Coble, a former instructor in the College of Business, have died. Hannah Luce, a recent graduate and daughter of ORU Trustee Ron Luce, is in the hospital. Please pray for all of the families that lost loved ones and for Hannah in the hospital. Pray for God’s peace to be with all of them and pray for Hannah’s healing.”
A twin engine plane that took off from Jones Riverside Airport has crashed in rural Kansas, killing four men.
The 8-seat Cessna 401, which bears the emblem of an eagle and an American flag on the tail, was en route to an airport in Council Bluffs, Iowa. The plane went down in a rural area northeast of High Prairie Church, Kansas, around 5:30 p.m. Friday.
A total of five passengers were on board. Three men, including the pilot, were pronounced dead at the scene, and a man and a woman were taken to the hospital in critical condition, according to officials. The NTSB said the plane lost contact with air traffic control shortly after getting permission to descend to a lower altitude. Investigators were unaware of any distress call.
A report from the Kansas Highway Patrol identified the victims as pilot Luke Sheets, 23, of Ephraim, Wisconsin; Garrett Coble, 29, of Tulsa; and Stephen Luth, 22, of Muscatine, Iowa. Austin Anderson, 27, of Ringwood, Oklahoma; and Hannah Luce, 22, of Golden Valley, Texas were hospitalized. Anderson later died at a Wichita hospital while Luce is in critical condition. The crash report states the aircraft landed in a field, skidded 200 feet and impacted a tree line, then spun 180 degrees and caught fire.
Firefighters worked for several hours getting control of the fiery wreckage. The NTSB will investigate what caused the crash.
Garrett Coble's Facebook page says he attended Oklahoma State and studied marketing and was an assistant professor of marketing at NSU-BA, and was recently engaged. Stephen Luth's Facebook page says he attended Oral Roberts University. Austin Anderson was a recent ORU graduate.
Late Friday, FOX23 spoke with a Bill Austin, a plane dealer in Tennessee, who says he sold the plane a few of weeks ago. He declined to name the buyer but he believed the buyer was from the Muskogee area. He said he knew of no prior problems with the plane.
Austin said the previous owner of the plane was a huge fan of country music star Aaron Tippin, and had the plane outfitted with the eagle and flag emblem. The new buyer was also a Tippin fan. Austin, who is a personal friend of the Tippins, said Aaron Tippin actually flew the plane to Tulsa, to Jones Riverside Airport, a few weeks ago, and met the pilot, Luke Sheets, and some of the other young men.
Of pilot Luke Sheets, Austin said, "He was just a wonderful young man, God-fearing man, it's a terrible loss."
A plane that took off from the Jones Riverside Airport Friday afternoon crashed near Chanute, Kansas, killing four people.
The Kansas Highway Patrol says the 1991 Cessna 401 took off from the runway about 4:30 in the afternoon.
An accident report obtained by KRMG says the aircraft was westbound when it landed in a field, skidding 200 feet before impacting a tree line. The aircraft spun 180 degrees and came to rest facing eastbound.
Peter Knudson. a spokesman for the National Transportation Safety Board, says the plane lost contact with air traffic control shortly after getting permission to descend to a lower altitude.
The report lists the pilot as 23-year-old Luke Sheets from Ephraim, Wisconsin. He was killed
Also on board was 29-year-old Garrett Coble from Tulsa. He was also killed. A friend tells KRMG Coble was recently engaged. He was an an assistant professor at Northeastern State University. He graduated from Oklahoma State University after studying marketing.
The third fatal victim was 22-year-old Steven Luth from Muscatine, Iowa.
Another passenger, 27-year-old Austin Anderson from Ringwood, Oklahoma, was taken to Christi St. Francis Hospital in Wichita.
22-year-old Hannah Luce from Garden Valey, Texas, was taken to KU Medical Center in Kansas City.
The plane was en route to Council Bluffs, Iowa.
Knudson says the plane lost contact with air traffic control shortly after getting permission to descend to a lower altitude. Knudson says investigators were unaware of any distress call.
