Friday, September 14, 2012

New York: Federal Aviation Administration says it should have notified residents of increased plane noise

Borough leaders lambasted the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) after they said a concluded trial period testing a new departure procedure at LaGuardia Airport took off and landed without proper community notice.

“This is the borough board … This is where you start. You don’t end up here. I don’t think you’re in touch,” said Borough President Helen Marshall to invited government air traffic control representatives at a September 10 board meeting. “I don’t understand why you didn’t let us know about this a long time ago.”

Residents from Bayside and downtown Flushing say they had been tormented since mid-June by the ear-splitting roar of low-flying airplanes they say soared past their homes by the minute each day from 6 a.m. to noon and then again from 6 p.m. to midnight.

They joined a borough-wide chorus of homeowners, some in Briarwood and Woodside, who say they were also blighted by the thundering turbulence.

“This seems like something very unfair to do to this borough,” Marshall said. “We have to consider the people.”

FAA officials said the agency has finished with a six-month trial — called the “Tennis Climb” — to test a departure procedure at LaGuardia Airport, in which departing traffic turns left to the north off Runway 13.

Read more here:  http://queenscourier.com

New owners take wing at airport eatery: Tammy and Guy Anderson take over Wings Cafe at Brainerd Lakes Regional (KBRD), Minnesota


Tammy and Guy Anderson wanted a small restaurant where customers could be known by name. They found one made to order in the Wings Airport Cafe.

“It’s the perfect size for us,” Tammy Anderson said. “We wanted something cozy where you could know the people by name like a Cheers restaurant.”

The Andersons bought the 48-seat restaurant, located at Brainerd Lakes Regional Airport, earlier this month.

“It’s got an awesome view,” Guy Anderson said.

Just past the checkered table cloths are large windows with a view of the airport. Customers, including the Andersons’ grandchildren, enjoy watching the planes come and go. The planes also bring in customers who taxi in just to get a bite before heading back up into the deep blue sky.

Cooking isn’t new to the family. Guy Anderson was a cook at Breezy Point Resort and the former Westside Cafe. He’s splitting his other day job at Silent Power with cooking duties at the restaurant. Tammy handles cooking duties and waits tables. The two start their day with the kitchen prep work about 5:30 a.m. The restaurant opens at 7 a.m. and serves customers until 3 p.m. during the week with daily breakfast and lunch specials. Saturday and Sunday, Wings closes at 2 p.m. and on Sunday opens at 8 a.m.

Read more:   http://brainerddispatch.com

2 Pakistan International Airlines planes hit by birds

KARACHI - PIA was forced to change its domestic flight schedule and cancel a domestic flight as two of its aircrafts were hit by bird at Islamabad and Karachi airports. This was stated by the PIA spokesman in a statement issued here on Friday.

Flight PK-390, a Boeing 737 on a scheduled flight from Lahore to Islamabad, was bird hit in the late afternoon while landing at Benazir Bhutto International Airport, Islamabad.  The same aircraft was to perform PK-369 from Islamabad to Karachi, due to non-availability of aircraft, flight PK-369 with 118 passengers had to be cancel.

These passengers were adjusted on PK-309 and an incoming international flight PK-853 which will now bring them to Karachi from Islamabad.  Passengers on PK-309 will reach Karachi by 9 pm while PK-853 will arrive at 3 am (Saturday).

Another flight PK-307 arriving from Lahore to Karachi late Thursday night was also bird hit at Jinnah International Airport, Karachi, due to which an Airbus A310 aircraft was declared technical.  The aircraft is being repaired at the PIA Engineering facility. Therefore, due to unavailability of aircraft the passengers booked for September 14 Lahore bound flight PK-306 will be adjusted on PK-370 which will now operate as Karachi-Lahore-Islamabad.

While, the passengers coming from Lahore on flight PK-307 will be brought to Karachi on another international flight PK-724 coming from New York 50 minutes earlier than its scheduled time of 7:50 pm reaching Lahore at 7 pm and will leave Lahore at 10 pm for Karachi, the scheduled departure time of PK-307.

During the year 2012 to date, a total of 46 bird hit incidents have occurred at airports in Pakistan causing damage to the aircraft, huge financial losses due to maintenance and repair, revenue loss due to flight cancellations and disturbance of PIA flight schedule causing discomfort to PIA passengers which is beyond the control of the airline, the PIA spokesman said.


Source:  http://www.nation.com.pk

Foothills Regional (KMRN), Morganton, North Carolina: Two former top employees of airport agree to plead guilty to theft and embezzlement

MORGANTON, NC — Two former employees of Foothills Regional Airport have agreed to plead guilty in federal court after a months-long FBI investigation into theft and embezzlement of airport funds.

According to a release Friday from the US Department of Justice, Alex Dean Nelson, 49, of Lenoir, who was the airport administrator, and Bradley Dale Adkins, 36, of Hickory, who was the operations manager for the airport, have been charged with one count each of engaging in a public corruption conspiracy.

The release said, “Nelson schemed to use his access and public authority to steal and embezzle over $130,000 from the Airport and its customers in order to fund his personal lifestyle, including purchases of a Key West vacation timeshare, a “Party Barge” pontoon boat, the building of a new in-ground pool at Nelson’s residence, and cars.”

In addition, the release said Nelson and Adkins diverted checks made out to the airport into accounts Nelson controlled. Court documents filed in the western district of US Federal Court say Nelson conspired with Adkins to run some of the stolen money through a bank account controlled by Adkins in exchange for Adkins being able to keep some of the money.

Nelson and Adkins also have been charged with embezzlement from the airport, an organization receiving benefits in excess of $10,000 in federal assistance. Nelson also has been charged with money laundering, according to the release.

The court documents say Nelson and Adkins used various methods, including Nelson pretending to “pay supposed airport expenses by making out airport checks to bogus entities and listing such payments in the Airport’s books and records as though they were for legitimate expenses.”

For instance, the court documents say, checks were made out to “Foothills Maintenance” and those checks were either cashed or deposited into an account controlled by Adkins under the name of “Foothills Cleaning, Maintenance, and Repair, LLC.” The money would then be divvied up between the two men.

Other checks were made out to “Tri County Grounds and Maintenance” and deposited into an account set up under that name that was controlled by Nelson, the documents say. The documents say Nelson deposited an airport check for $2,400 with “2 mowings/1 bush hogging[sic]” in the memo line of the check into his “Tri County Grounds and Maintenance” account, which was set up at BB&T.

The two men also stole money customers thought they were paying to the airport, the court documents say. If a customer paid by check for things such as maintenance or hangar or airplane rentals, checks were deposited into the bogus Foothills account Adkins set up. If a customer paid by credit card for the expenses, Nelson would swipe that card through his personal credit card machine that linked to a bogus company that would divert the payments to an account Nelson controlled, the documents say.

The documents say Nelson also stole from the airport by using an airport credit card to pay for personal things such as food, nutritional supplements, construction materials and tools.

“Nelson and Adkins also defrauded the airport and the Foothills Regional Airport Authority by awarding no-work contracts and contracts for services at grossly inflated prices,” the release said. “Among other things, Nelson also stole approximately 1,000 gallons of fuel from the Airport to heat a personal martial arts studio that Nelson owned.”

The timeframe for the crimes was between June 2009 and June 2012, court documents say.

On June 5, when FBI agents raided the airport they took computers, logs and records, as well as any records related to Morganton businessman and former chair of the airport authority board Randy Hullette, Hullette Aviation, Burkemont Service Center in Morganton, RANMAC Inc., Jeffrey Rose, Grady Rose Tree Service, Jimmy “Ron” Gilbert, Gilbert Grading and Construction, Simon Roofing and Parton Lumber.

The warrants were for records of airport customers and vendors, computer hard drives, electronic media, all bank accounts, checks, credit card bills, account information and other financial records. The warrants also called for any logs, registry entries, saved user names, passwords and even browser history to be turned over.

The airport authority board voted July 25 to fire Nelson and Adkins.

Nelson and Adkins have agreed to plead guilty to the charges. According to information from the US Department of Justice, the public corruption conspiracy charge carries a statutory maximum sentence of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The embezzlement charge carries a statutory maximum sentence of 10 years in prison and a $250,000. The money laundering charge carries a statutory sentence of 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine or twice the amount of criminally derived proceeds, the information said.

Court documents say Jack W. Stewart, Jr. in Asheville is representing Nelson, while Albert M. Messer in Asheville is representing Adkins. Kurt W. Meyers in Charlotte is representing the US Attorney`s Office in the case.

An initial appearance and arraignment has been set for 10:30 a.m. on Sept. 24 in Courtroom 2, 100 Otis St, Asheville, before Magistrate Judge Dennis Howell, according to court filings.

In addition, the government can take approximately $130,000 it believes was derived from the violations, along with a 2006 Ford Expedition, 2008 Mercedes C300, a Sun Tracker Party Barge 25 pontoon boat with a Mercury 115 motor and a 2001 Chevrolet Corvette convertible.

Whether Nelson and Adkins are the only ones that will end up being charged in the case remains to be seen. Court documents say Nelson and Adkins “did knowingly combine, conspire, confederate, and agree with each other and others known and unknown to the United States Attorney, to commit offenses against the United States.” Those offenses include “embezzlement by agents of federally funded organizations,” the court documents say.

Board members, staff say it’s time to move on


“I just hate it for the airport really,” authority Chairman Wayne Abele said. “It’s something that nobody would have known about…It’s a shame. I put a lot of trust in both of those young men, especially Alex.”

Abele, who is also chairman of the Burke County Board of Commissioners, said he felt “duped” and may have trusted Nelson too much.

“It’s hard for me to take that they’ve embezzled from the airport,” Abele said. “…I guess I don’t feel completely sorry for them. Again, I feel my friendship with them has been betrayed.”

He’s also upset the conspiracy happened on his watch as chairman, Abele said, but he’s confident in the current staff at the airport.

“If your accountant is being fed bad information, you don’t pick up on it,” Abele said. “You don’t pick up on these things overnight.

“It takes awhile for your cash flow to go down to such a point where you start saying, there’s got to be something going on...They get too greedy and you finally catch them.”

Authority Attorney Louis Vinay said, “Until today (Friday), all we’ve known is rumors basically…By no means were we able to sort this out because some of these things are matters we didn’t have access to.”

The charges and plea agreements are a “big step forward” for the airport, Vinay said.

He had not seen the plea agreements as of Friday, Vinay said, but hopes to have a copy in hand on Monday.

“It’s plainly an unfortunate thing, but we’re glad some closure is being reached on some part of this,” Vinay said.

Authority member and Lenoir Mayor Joe Gibbons said he was glad the FBI investigation has come to a conclusion and that more information is now available.

Gibbons said he was disappointed in Nelson and Adkins, as they were entrusted with leading the airport, but he focused on the future of the airport.

“Even during this time during the investigation we have continued to operate as best we can,” Gibbons said. “We hope that when this cloud is lifted from here that we’ll look for brighter things.”

Foothills Regional Airport has benefitted the four entities – Morganton, Lenoir, Burke and Caldwell – economically and will strive to continue doing so, Gibbons said.

“We want it to grow in every way it can and continue to be the economic engine it was designed to be,” Gibbons said. “…Maybe people who have left the airport for whatever reasons will continue to come back to the airport.”

Echoing Abele, Gibbons praised the current airport staff and expressed his confidence in those employees.

But even as the airport looks to its future, it will also try to regain what was lost.

“Money was stolen from the airport,” Vinay said. “The airport is certainly going to assert a claim for restitution.”

How much the airport can recover is unknown, Vinay said. He refrained from commenting further as he has not seen the plea agreements.

The airport has procedures in place such as having checks signed by two people, Abele said.

Vinay said the authority will look further into other safeguards.

“Going forward, the airport is going to focus on, among other things, on making sure this kind of situation couldn’t happen again,” Vinay said.

The investigation has also had an effect on the airport authority, as one of its members was named in an attachment to the FBI’s search and seizure warrant. Randy Hullette and his businesses, Burkemont Service Center, Hullette Aviation and RANMAC, Inc. were listed in the attachment.

Others named in the attachment were Jeffrey Rose, Grady Rose Tree Service (now called Rose Lot Clearing), Jimmy “Ron” Gilbert, Gilbert Grading and Construction, Simon Roofing and Parton Lumber.

The Department of Justice announcement Friday did not include charges for any of the individuals or businesses listed in that attachment.

The authority has already asked the Burke County Board of Commissioners to remove and replace Hullette because he missed three scheduled meetings. The Burke board is scheduled to vote on the item at its regular meeting Tuesday.

Hullette also missed two special called meetings. He has not attended an authority meeting since June 6 when the board suspended Nelson and Adkins with pay.

Abele said the authority only asked for Hullette’s removal because authority members cannot miss three meetings.

“It wasn’t based on anything else,” Abele said. “It was strictly because he missed three meetings.”

At the Burke board’s pre-agenda meeting Tuesday, Commissioner Maynard Taylor said the board would need to make clear that Hullette’s removal was due to his absences and that he was not at fault for anything.

Taylor said Hullette told him he never received a notice about the two special called meetings.

“(Hullette) has said because of the situation he’s in that he did decide he didn’t want to combat it,” Taylor said. “But I think that it is important for this board to understand, he is not guilty of anything.”

Abele, on Friday, said, “There weren’t any charges. If he wants to come back we have an opening. That’s fine, too.”

The airport authority’s next scheduled meeting is Sept. 26.


Source:  http://www2.hickoryrecord.com

Coping with Post-Crash Anxiety From Air Races

KTVN Channel 2 - Reno Tahoe News Weather, Video -  

The 49th annual Reno Air Races are in full swing, bringing aviation fans from all over the world to the area. But after last year's tragic crash, this year's races also bring grief and anxiety for many people in the community. 

Local therapists say they have already seen cases of post-traumatic stress over the past few weeks. Dana Anderson, a marriage and family therapist in Reno, said recovering emotionally from something like that is a long road, and unfortunately our society doesn't always give people a lot of time to heal.

"We live in a culture that says 'Get up. Shake it off. Move on,'" Anderson said. "And so I think that's why some people are going out there [to the races]."

Anderson said for some people, experiencing the community element of the races could help them process their feelings and move forward. But for others, sights and sounds like the roar of the engine or the sound of the crowd could trigger emotional responses, even panic attacks.

And it's not just people who experienced the crash firsthand. She said it can be loved ones of the victims, or even people who just saw it on TV.

"I find it interesting that people are going back that went through it," Anderson said, "because I wouldn't recommend that within one year. I think that's a little too soon."

Anderson said if you go to the races and start to feel panicked, you should get out of the crowd and go to a place where you feel safe, like your car. Close your eyes and take deep breaths, until the feeling passes.

Story and video:   http://www.ktvn.com

Sepulveda Pass fire: Super Scoopers attack 40-acre blaze

 


Two Super Scooper aircraft capable of dumping 1,600 gallons of water at a time made drops on a fast-moving 40-acre fire east of the Sepulveda Pass, quickly snuffing out flames.

By 5:50 p.m. they had dropped about 20,000 gallons of water on the fire.

More than 100 firefighters were battling the blaze, which was moving from the base of the 405 Freeway up a mountain toward Moraga Drive, where homes are located on a cul-de-sac in the hills of Bel-Air, said Capt. Jamie Moore.

PHOTOS: Fire in Sepulveda Pass threatens homes, Getty Center

Skimming water from the Pacific Ocean, the firefighting aircraft, which are leased from Canada, can grab the massive loads of water in just 12 seconds and fly for three hours without refueling. The bright yellow-and-red planes can alight on land or water.

This is the 19th year Los Angeles County has leased the water-dropping planes, which cost $2.75 million for three months.

This year’s models come from a fire department in Quebec. The Bombardier CL-415s will be in the county through November. They are based at Van Nuys Airport and augment the county’s fleet of 10 helicopters.

At this stage of the fire, authorities said, there is no evidence of arson and the cause remains undetermined. The Getty Center, situated south of the fire, closed early, and synagogue leaders removed eight Torahs from Leo Baeck Temple at the base of the burning ridge on Sepulveda Boulevard. The temple had staff standing by to see if the fire would be contained in time to hold Friday Shabbat services, said Abigail Spiegel, executive director.

Firefighters appeared confident they would be able to keep the flames from reaching homes, noting that the winds were light, at 7 to 9 mph. As a a precaution, people in the area were leaving of their own accord, including students and staff at Mount St. Mary's College near the Getty Center.

Authorities had not called for evacuations but cautioned people to be ready to leave at a moment's notice.

Story and video:   http://latimesblogs.latimes.com

SAN BERNARDINO: Plane crash sites sprinkled through county

G. Pat Macha was just 16 when the plane wreck bug crawled under his skin. 


It happened when he was working at Camp Conrad, a YMCA camp in Barton Flats. On a long hike, he stumbled upon the remains of an Air Force C-47D that had crashed into the snowy south slope of San Gorgonio Peak in 1952.

“At the time I went there, there was no trail,” Macha recalls.

That was nearly 50 years ago.

These days, the Sky High Trail, which curls around the south face of the mountain on its way to the summit, cuts right through the middle of the wreckage. Twisted and ragged sheets of corrugated metal are all that remain of the fuselage that splintered across the mountainside.

Macha, 66, of Mission Viejo, said when he first saw the crash site, there were still pieces of uniforms, boots and seats from the plane among the debris. Scavengers picked those remnants clean over the years.

The experience fostered an enduring passion in Macha for finding crash sites. In 1991, he published “Plane Wrecks in the Mountains and Deserts of California.” He’s currently working on a fourth edition. The third edition is no longer in print, but copies are available through www.aircraftwrecks.com.

The mountains and deserts of San Bernardino County are littered with airplane crash sites, he said. The attraction in seeking them out is a combination of the human stories and the thrill of discovery when he locates the remains of a plane that has been missing for years. He’ll speak about those experiences at 7:30 p.m. Thursday at Brackett Field in Pomona.

There is nothing quite like it, he said, “when you’re in a remote location and you come across something that’s man made, where time stopped so long ago.”

On numerous occasions he has helped family members reach these isolated spots. One such site was the 1964 crash of a private plane on San Bernardino Peak.

“The family of the pilot contacted me several years ago,” Macha said. He led the pilot’s son up the mountain, “and he placed a memorial up at the crash site. It meant the world to him to get to that site.”

Often families find a certain peace.

“There’s usually quite a few tears that get shed in the process,” he said, “but it brings closure. I’ve had people say, ‘Now I can sleep at night.’”

With major flight corridors through the Cajon and San Gorgonio passes, and a long history of experimental planes taking off out of nearby Edwards Air Force Base, San Bernardino County has had its share of aviation tragedies.

“Many of them have heart-rending stories,” Macha said.

The San Gorgonio crash was no exception. Thirteen men were onboard the cargo plane that had taken off from Offutt Air Force Base near Omaha before making stops in New Mexico and Arizona on the way to Norton Air Force Base. Some of the men probably had hopped aboard to make it home for a holiday visit. Raymond Ward, 37, the first man identified from the wreck, was from Riverside.

The plane went down Dec. 1. Weather kept rescue crews away. Medics from Norton reached the site Dec. 21, but 12 feet of snow kept them from finding any bodies. The crew wasn’t recovered until the following May.

Macha says those rescuers discovered some of the men had survived the crash. Two were found curled together, as if for warmth, inside the remains of the fuselage.

“There was a Marine down below the crash who had no injuries at all,” he said.

That man’s body was found stretched out in the snow, face up, his arm raised above his head, as if signaling to a search plane that never saw him.

Read more:   http://www.pe.com

Proposed Mohave County heliport causes dust-up

A zoning request for a heliport north of Kingman ruffled a few feathers Wednesday.

Two people asked the Mohave County Planning and Zoning Commission to delay approving a zoning request for a heliport at the Last Stop Arizona gas station and restaurant because the owner hadn't notified the Federal Aviation Administration of other heliport projects in the area.

The commission unanimously voted to recommend the zoning request to the Board of Supervisors. Commissioner Krystal Symonds recused herself from the vote because of a conflict of interest.

"I don't believe you got the full story," said Mark Sipple, an attorney for the nearby Triangle Airpark. He reminded the commission that they had approved a zoning request for a heliport for Loraus Investments across the street from the Last Stop in March. The approval of that heliport was not included in the report to the commission or the FAA, he said.

Commission Chair Carl Flusche pointed out that there was a site study from the FAA that said Last Stop's heliport wouldn't interfere with other air travel in the area.

Read more: http://www.kingmandailyminer.com

Historic hangar set to be renovated

A World War II-era hangar at the Bainbridge-Decatur County Airport is about to get a facelift.

County Administrator Gary Breedlove said Friday that the Federal Aviation Administration and state Department of Transportation has funding available to improve small community airports. Breedlove said that the county should be able to get a grant of between $200,000 and $300,000 to improve the old hangar adjacent to the new terminal building.

The hangar was built in 1942 and has 28,000 square feet of capacity. It is structurally sound and typically houses between 10-11 airplanes, whose owners pay a hangar rental fee to the county. However, the painted metal is dilapidated and the exterior is in generally rough shape.

Breedlove told the Decatur County Board of Commissioners at Tuesday’s regular board meeting that the county will only need to match approximately 3.75 percent of the grant — approximately $10,000 to $11,000. However, that money will not need to come from the county’s general fund. Instead, it will be taken from proceeds made when the county sold salvaged metal from the old Gilreath Building.

Read more here:  http://www.thepostsearchlight.com

The Carlyle Group Partners with Management to Acquire Landmark Aviation from GTCR and Platform Partners

The Carlyle Group

News Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 14, 2012

The Carlyle Group Partners with Management to
Acquire Landmark Aviation from GTCR and Platform Partners

Fixed Based Operator is Poised for Continued Growth Under New Ownership

Washington, DC, Houston, TX and Chicago, IL – Global alternative asset manager The Carlyle Group (NASDAQ: CG) today announced that it has agreed to acquire Landmark Aviation from GTCR and Platform Partners.

Equity capital for the transaction will come from Carlyle Partners V, a $13.7 billion buyout fund. The transaction is subject to customary closing conditions and regulatory approvals and is expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2012. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

Landmark Aviation operates one of the largest fixed based operation (FBO) networks in the world, with 51 locations throughout the United States, Canada and France, and also provides a range of aircraft maintenance, charter and management services. Together with Landmark’s existing management team, Carlyle plans to support the company’s growth strategy by investing in the continued expansion and modernization of its existing FBO network as well as pursuing additional locations through acquisitions and greenfield developments.

Adam Palmer, Carlyle Managing Director and Head of the Global Aerospace, Defense and Government Services team, said, “Landmark Aviation has established a strong reputation in the business aviation industry for its emphasis on safety and customer service. We look forward to partnering with Landmark’s experienced and talented management team to accelerate the growth of the company’s FBO network.”

Dan Bucaro, Landmark President and CEO, added, “Over the past several years, we have worked closely with airport authorities and the communities we serve as we have built Landmark Aviation into a world-class FBO platform. We are excited to work with Carlyle, a noted investor in aviation for more than two decades, in continuing to grow the Landmark franchise.”

“We have greatly enjoyed working with Dan and his team over the past five years,” said GTCR Principal Craig Bondy.  “Landmark management and employees worked tirelessly to build a strategic and valuable network. We look forward to seeing the next chapter of the Landmark story develop under Carlyle’s ownership.”

Carlyle’s Global Aerospace, Defense and Government Services group has invested approximately $4.2 billion in more than 40 aerospace and defense companies since 1987, including past stakes in Avio SpA, Howmet International and Vought Aircraft, and current stakes in ARINC Incorporated, Sequa Corporation and Wesco Aircraft Holdings (NYSE: WAIR).

Morgan Stanley, RBC Capital Markets and Barclays have committed to provide debt financing for the transaction.

* * * * *

Advisors
Landmark Aviation / GTCR / Platform Partners
M&A: Morgan Stanley / Barclays
Legal: Kirkland & Ellis LLP

The Carlyle Group
M&A: Evercore Partners
Legal: Latham & Watkins LLP
*  *  *  *  *

About Landmark Aviation
Headquartered in Houston, Texas, Landmark Aviation operates a network of fixed base operations located throughout the U.S., Canada and Western Europe. The Company offers a wide range of services, including FBO, MRO, charter and management. For more information, visit www.landmarkaviation.com.

About The Carlyle Group
The Carlyle Group (NASDAQ: CG) is a global alternative asset manager with $156 billion of assets under management across 99 funds and 63 fund of fund vehicles as of June 30, 2012. Carlyle's purpose is to invest wisely and create value. Carlyle invests across four segments – Corporate Private Equity, Real Assets, Global Market Strategies and Fund of Funds Solutions – in Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe, the Middle East, North America and South America. Carlyle has expertise in various industries, including: aerospace, defense & government services, consumer & retail, energy, financial services, healthcare, industrial, technology & business services, telecommunications & media and transportation. The Carlyle Group employs 1,300 people in 32 offices across six continents.

About GTCR
Founded in 1980, GTCR is a leading private equity firm focused on investing in growth companies in the Financial Services & Technology, Healthcare and Information Services & Technology industries. The Chicago-based firm pioneered the “Leaders Strategy” – finding and partnering with management leaders as the critical first step in identifying, acquiring and building market-leading companies through acquisitions and organic growth. Since its inception, GTCR has invested more than $9 billion in over 200 companies. For more information, please visit www.gtcr.com.

About Platform Partners
Platform Partners, LLC is a private holding company based in Houston that makes investments in middle-market companies with the intent of growing the businesses into industry leaders through a combination of organic and acquisition growth. More information about Platform can be found at www.platformllc.com.

*  *  *  *  *

Media Contacts:
Landmark Aviation:
Charlotte Cheatham
W +713-300-0762

The Carlyle Group:
Liz Gill
W +1-202-729-5385

GTCR
Eileen Rochford
W +1-312-953-3305
eileenr@theharbingergroup.com

Platform Partners
Ann Corrigan
W +1-713-335-2320
acorrigan@platformllc.com


#  #

Cessna 421: Solo Flight from MMAN to MMIO, VOR DME 2 RWY 15 MMCV IMC, Departure MMAN IMC

 
Takeoff in a Cessna 421 from MMAN IMC Departure 
~

 
Doing the VOR DME 2 RWY 15 in actual IMC into MMCV. 
 ~
 
Full Solo flight from MMAN to MMIO in a Cessna 421

Northwing Design Apache Sport, N850GB: Accident occurred September 14, 2012 in Vermillion, South Dakota

NTSB Identification: CEN12LA634 
14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Friday, September 14, 2012 in Vermillion, SD
Probable Cause Approval Date: 10/09/2014
Aircraft: NORTH WING DESIGN APACHE SPORT, registration: N850GB
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 seeing the weight-shift-control light-sport aircraft shortly after takeoff in a steep climb before it rolled left and entered a near-vertical descent into terrain. Two witnesses reported that the engine was not operating normally before the aircraft departed controlled flight. The aircraft was subsequently destroyed during a postimpact ground fire. An examination of the remaining airframe components and the engine revealed no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. Although the propeller was partially consumed by fire, it exhibited impact damage consistent with rotation at the time of impact. However, a functional test of the engine was not possible because both carburetors and the dual electronic ignition system were destroyed during the postimpact fire. The pilot had a history of coronary artery disease, an aortic heart valve replacement, a craniotomy following a skiing accident, and multiple episodes of transient ischemic attack. However, insufficient evidence existed to determine if the pilot had become impaired or incapacitated at the time of the accident. The pilot had never applied for a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) medical certificate. According to FAA regulations, a pilot operating a light-sport aircraft does not need to apply for nor possess an FAA medical certificate. In lieu of a medical certificate, a pilot can operate light-sport aircraft if they possess a valid driver’s license; the pilot had a valid driver’s license when the accident occurred. Per FAA regulations, a pilot must not know of or have reason to know of any medical condition that would make them unable to operate a light-sport aircraft in a safe manner. The pilot’s documented medical conditions would likely have precluded him from holding an FAA medical certificate of any class. Additionally, the pilot had been diagnosed with dizziness by his personal physician who counseled him against driving and flying. The pilot’s spouse reported that her husband had no recent complaints of fatigue, shortness of breath, or chest pain. On the day of the accident, the pilot was reportedly alert with no noticeable fatigue or complaints and was looking forward to his upcoming cross-country flight.

The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident as follows:
The pilot’s failure to maintain control of the weight-shift-control aircraft during initial climb, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall/spin.

HISTORY OF FLIGHT

On September 14, 2012, about 1615 central daylight time, an experimental North Wing Design model Apache Sport light sport aircraft, N850GB, was destroyed when it collided with terrain shortly after takeoff from the Harold Davidson Field Airport (VMR), Vermillion, South Dakota. A postimpact ground fire ensued. The sport pilot, who was the sole occupant, was fatally injured. The weight-shift-control aircraft was registered to and operated by the pilot under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 without a flight plan. Day visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the personal flight. The cross-country flight was originating at the time of the accident and was en route to a private airstrip near Kimball, South Dakota.

A witness to the accident reported that he was working outside his residence when he heard the weight-shift-control aircraft depart the airport. He initially heard the sound of the aircraft's engine before he spotted the aircraft climbing at a steep angle. He reported that the aircraft then rolled to the left and entered a near vertical descent. The aircraft descended below his sightline before he heard a sound similar to a ground impact and saw smoke rising-up from the same general area.

Another witness reported that he was working in his garage when he heard the sound of an aircraft engine "having trouble." He looked up and saw the weight-shift-control aircraft in a steep bank angle as it descended toward the ground. He stated that the engine was making a loud noise during the descent.

Another witness reported that he was watching the weight-shift-control aircraft takeoff from the airport. He stated that the engine initially sounded like it was operating normally, but as the aircraft continued to climb the engine began to run roughly. He noted that the airplane then descended below a nearby tree line.

PERSONNEL INFORMATION

According to Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) records, the pilot, age 75, held a sport pilot certificate with weight-shift-control and powered-parachute ratings. He also held a repairman certificate, which allowed him to maintain the accident weight-shift-control aircraft and two other light-sport aircraft. According to FAA records, the pilot had never applied for an aviation medical certificate; however, the operation of a light-sport aircraft only required a valid driver's license. A search of FAA records showed no previous accidents, incidents, or enforcement proceedings.

The most recent pilot logbook entry was dated September 11, 2012. At that time, the pilot had accumulated 571.3 hours total flight time, of which 375.7 hours were logged as pilot-in-command. He had logged 375.7 flight hours in weight-shift-control aircraft and 195.6 hours in powered-parachutes. All of his documented flight experience was in daytime visual meteorological conditions. He had logged 44.5 hours during the past year, 27.2 hours during the prior 6 months, 16.3 hours during previous 90 days, and 3.7 hours in the last 30 days. The pilot did not log a flight within 24 hours of the accident. His last flight review was completed on September 9, 2011, in an Edge XT-582-L weight-shift-control aircraft.

AIRCRAFT INFORMATION

The weight-shift-control aircraft was a 2005 North Wing Design model Apache Sport, serial number (s/n) 51188. A two-stroke, two-cylinder, water cooled, 65-horsepower, Rotax model 582 UL DCDI engine, s/n 5743300, powered the aircraft. The engine was equipped with a ground-adjustable, three blade, Ivoprop model Quick Adjust propeller. The aircraft could seat two individuals, and had an empty weight and a maximum takeoff weight of 473 pounds and 950 pounds, respectively.

The weight-shift-control aircraft was issued an experimental airworthiness certificate on April 24, 2007. The pilot purchased the aircraft on February 23, 2011. According to available information, the airframe and engine had accumulated a total service time of 210.6 hours at the time of the accident.

The last conditional inspection was completed on April 10, 2012, at 184.1 hours airframe total time. A postaccident review of the maintenance records found no history of unresolved airworthiness issues.

METEOROLOGICAL INFORMATION

At 1555, the VMR automatic weather observing station reported the following weather conditions: wind from 280 degrees at 2 knots, visibility in excess of 10 miles, temperature 28 degrees Celsius, dew point 4 degrees Celsius, and an altimeter setting of 30.24 inches of mercury. Review of photographs taken by local law enforcement immediately following the accident revealed no appreciable cloud cover or visibility restrictions at the accident site, consistent with visual meteorological conditions.

A pilot reported experiencing moderate turbulence, updrafts, and dust-devils while flying near the accident site about 30 minutes before the accident occurred.

AIRPORT INFORMATION

The Harold Davidson Field Airport (VMR), a public-use airport, located about 1 mile south of Vermillion, South Dakota, was served by a single runway: 12/30 (4,105 feet by 75 feet, concrete). The airport elevation was 1,147 feet mean sea level (msl).

WRECKAGE AND IMPACT INFORMATION

A postaccident on-scene examination, completed by a FAA Airworthiness Inspector, confirmed that all airframe structural components were located at the accident site. The main wreckage was located on the extended runway 30 centerline, about 1/2 mile past the end of the runway. The entire wreckage was contained within an area comparable to the lateral dimensions of the aircraft. The lack of a wreckage debris path or any lateral impact damage to the surrounding corn crop was consistent with a near vertical impact angle. A majority of the fuselage structure and wing were consumed during the postimpact fire. Flight control continuity could not be established due to damage; however, all observed separations were consistent with either an overstress failure or prolonged exposure to fire.

The engine exhibited damage consistent with prolonged exposure to fire. The dual electronic ignition system and both carburetors were destroyed during the fire. A postaccident engine examination confirmed internal engine and valve train continuity as the engine crankshaft was rotated. Compression and suction were noted on both cylinders in conjunction with crankshaft rotation. The spark plugs were removed and exhibited features consistent with normal engine operation. All three composite propeller blades remained attached to the metal hub assembly and exhibited damage consistent with impact and prolonged exposure to fire. The engine examination revealed no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal engine operation.

MEDICAL AND PATHOLOGICAL INFORMATION

On September 17, 2012, an autopsy was performed on the pilot at Sanford Health Pathology Clinic, located in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. The cause of death for the pilot was attributed to multiple blunt-force injuries sustained during the accident. The autopsy report also described extensive postmortem thermal injuries. Additionally, the autopsy report indicated that there was significant blunt-force damage to the heart that precluded a detailed examination.

The FAA Civil Aerospace Medical Institute (CAMI) in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, performed toxicology tests on samples obtained during the pilot's autopsy. Ethanol and n-propanol were detected in muscle samples, but was not detected in brain tissues. The presence of ethanol and n-propanol was attributed to sources other than ingestion. Metoprolol was detected in muscle and liver samples. Metoprolol, brand name Lopressor or Toprol XL, is a prescription medication used to treat high blood pressure, angina, and to control heart rate in some arrhythmias. Rosuvastatin was detected in liver samples. Rosuvastatin, brand name Crestor, is a prescription medication used to treat high cholesterol and prevent heart disease. Tamsulosin was detected in muscle and liver samples. Tamsulosin, brand name Flomax, is a prescription medication used to treat benign prostatic hyperplasia. Warfarin was detected in muscle and liver samples. Warfarin, brand name Coumadin, is a prescription anticoagulant.

During the postaccident investigation, the NTSB Investigator-In-Charge and a FAA Medical Officer interviewed the pilot's spouse to ascertain the pilot's previous medical history. The pilot had an artificial aortic heart valve replacement for the past 38 years and was on a daily regimen of Coumadin. Additionally, he had coagulation studies done monthly, which were reportedly normal and there were no known issues with his replacement heart valve.

The pilot had heart bypass surgery in the 1990's. In 2006 he had a cardiac catheterization to evaluate ischemia and to install a stent in an artery that was 90-percent occluded; however, the location of the occlusion prevented stenting and his previous surgeries prevented additional surgical intervention. The pilot was reportedly receiving medical treatment for his ischemic coronary artery disease.

The pilot had a craniotomy after developing slurred speech resulting from a slowly expanding subdural hematoma sustained during a ski accident about 10 years before his fatal aviation accident. Following the craniotomy, his slurred speech resolved and he had no residual neurological symptoms.

The pilot's spouse reported that the pilot had 4 or 5 episodes of transient ischemic attack; however, the symptoms of each episode were always different. More than 10 years before the accident flight and before his craniotomy surgery, the pilot experienced double vision while driving. Then about a year later he had another episode when he told his wife that he was experiencing eye problems and his wife noted that his eyes were bulging; however, the symptoms resolved after a few seconds. Since his craniotomy procedure, while operating an automobile, the pilot reportedly lost vision and had to pull over and let his wife drive. The final episode occurred 3 or 4 years before the accident flight, when the pilot told his wife that he felt the table was tipping, but she noted he was leaning instead. The pilot's spouse reported that each episode lasted only a few seconds and after which, the pilot exhibited no residual symptoms. Following his most recent episode, which occurred 3 to 4 years before the accident flight, the pilot's spouse asked her husband to tell his physician about his latest episode; however, she did not know if he indeed told his doctor or not.

The pilot was evaluated by his personal physician in February 2008 and was diagnosed with dizziness and counseled him against driving or flying. However, records show that in April 2010, the pilot passed an exam for a commercial driver's license.

The pilot's spouse reported that her husband had no recent complaints of fatigue, shortness of breath or chest pain. On the day of the accident, the pilot was reportedly alert with no noticeable fatigue or complaints, and was looking forward to his upcoming cross country flight.

According to FAA regulations, a pilot operating light-sport aircraft does not need to apply for nor possess a FAA medical certificate. In lieu of a FAA medical certificate, a pilot can operate light-sport aircraft if they possess a valid driver's license; although, a pilot must not know of or have reason to know of any medical condition that would make them unable to operate a light-sport aircraft in a safe manner.

TESTS AND RESEARCH

A handheld GPS device was recovered from the wreckage and sent to the NTSB Vehicle Recorder Laboratory for further examination. The GPS device exhibited significant thermal damage, consistent with a prolonged exposure to fire. The damage to the GPS device prevented a normal download via a cabled connection to a host computer. A nonvolatile memory chip, which normally contains recorded position data, was extracted from the damaged GPS; however, the NTSB Vehicle Recorder Laboratory was unable to perform a chip-level download due to heat damage sustained to the memory chip.

NTSB Identification: CEN12LA634 
 14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Friday, September 14, 2012 in Vermillion, SD
Aircraft: North Wing Design Apache Sport, registration: N850GB
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 14, 2012, about 1615 central daylight time, an experimental North Wing Design model Apache Sport light sport aircraft, N850GB, was substantially damaged when it collided with terrain shortly after takeoff from Harold Davidson Field Airport (KVMR), Vermillion, South Dakota. A postimpact ground fire ensued. The sport pilot, who was the sole occupant, was fatally injured. The weight-shift-control aircraft was registered to and operated by the pilot under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 without a flight plan. Day visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the personal flight. The cross-country flight was originating at the time of the accident and was en route to a private airstrip near Kimball, South Dakota.

A witness to the accident reported that he was working outside his residence when he heard the weight-shift-control aircraft depart the airport. He initially heard the sound of the aircraft’s engine before he spotted the aircraft climbing at a steep angle. He reported that the aircraft then rolled to the left and entered a near vertical descent. The aircraft descended below his sightline before he heard a sound similar to a ground impact and saw smoke rising-up from the same general area.

Another witness reported that he was working in his garage when he heard the sound of an aircraft engine “having trouble.” He looked up and saw the weight-shift-control aircraft in a steep bank angle as it descended toward the ground. He stated that the engine was making a loud noise during the descent.

Another witness reported that he was watching the weight-shift-control aircraft takeoff from the airport. He stated that the engine initially sounded like it was operating normally, but as the aircraft continued to climb the engine began to run roughly. He noted that the airplane then descended below a nearby tree line.

A postaccident investigation confirmed that all airframe structural components were located at the accident site. The main wreckage was located on the extended runway 30 centerline, about 1/2 mile past the departure threshold. The entire wreckage was contained within an area comparable to the lateral dimensions of the aircraft. The lack of a wreckage debris path or any lateral impact damage to the surrounding corn crop was consistent with a near vertical impact angle. A majority of the fuselage structure and wing were consumed during the postimpact fire. Flight control continuity could not be established due to damage; however, all observed separations were consistent with either an overstress failure or prolonged exposure to fire. The engine, a Rotax model 582 UL, serial number 5743300, exhibited damage consistent with prolonged exposure to fire. The dual electronic ignition system and both carburetors were destroyed during the fire. A postaccident engine examination confirmed internal engine and valve train continuity as the engine crankshaft was rotated. Compression and suction were noted on both cylinders in conjunction with crankshaft rotation. The spark plugs were removed and exhibited features consistent with normal engine operation. All three composite propeller blades remained attached to the metal hub assembly and exhibited damage consistent with impact and prolonged exposure to fire. The postaccident examination revealed no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or anomalies that would have precluded normal engine operation.

At 1555, the airport's automatic weather observing station reported the following weather conditions: wind from 280 degrees at 2 knots, visibility in excess of 10 miles, temperature 28 degrees Celsius, dew point 04 degrees Celsius, and altimeter 30.24 inches of mercury. Review of photographs taken by local law enforcement immediately following the accident revealed no appreciable cloud cover or visibility restrictions at the accident site, consistent with visual meteorological conditions.


 
Lowell Rahn

Lowell L. Rahn 

NEWCASTLE, Neb. | Lowell Leslie Rahn, 75, of Newcastle entered into rest Friday, Sept. 14, 2012, in Vermillion, S.D.

Services will be 2 p.m. Wednesday at Faith Lutheran Church in Maskell, Neb., with Vicar Chad Beckius officiating. Inurnment will be in Maskell Cemetery. Visitation will be 5 to 8 p.m. today, with a prayer service at 7 p.m., at the church. Visitation will continue one hour prior to the service Wednesday at the church. Arrangements are under the direction of the Wintz Funeral Home in Hartington, Neb.

Lowell Leslie Rahn was born on Aug. 23, 1937, to Leslie and Ruby (Coblenson) Rahn, in Sioux City. He attended Newcastle and Maskell Public School. Lowell worked for Swift and Company for 28 years and then started farming. He raised pure bred Angus cattle for several years, and also did custom hay cutting and hay moving.

Lowell married Joanne McCoy on Dec. 27, 1957. Three children were born to this union. He then married Janice Mansker on June 18, 1978, in Martinsburg, Neb.

Lowell lived life to the fullest. He enjoying family and friends, hunting, boating, camping, skiing, traveling and of course flying his beloved trike. Lowell was a member of Faith Lutheran Church in Maskell and a member of EAA, ASC, and US Ultralight Association.

He is survived by his wife, Janice; three children, David Rahn and special friend, Rhonda Hassebroek of South Sioux City, Randy Rahn and special friend, Diane Simon of Newcastle,Wyo., and Nancy Koskey and fiance, Jim Cleveland of Tea, S.D.; four stepchildren, Deanna and Brian Voss of Ponca, Neb., Denise and Todd Bond of San Diego, Calif., Jackie and Scott Deason of Tucson, Ariz., and Todd Mansker of Yankton, S.D.; five grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; nine stepgrandchildren; four great-stepgrandchildren; brother, Calvin and wife, Saundra Rahn of Ponca; and sister, Lorellie Opfer of Hartington.

Lowell was preceded in death by his parents, Leslie and Ruby Rahn; brother-in-law, Dave Opfer; and one great-stepgrandchild, Wyatt Mackling.

Honorary pallbearers will be Lowell's grandchildren, Jon Jager, Nakiea Boetger, Tyler Koskey, Brandon Koskey, and Les Rahn.

http://siouxcityjournal.com


IDENTIFICATION
  Regis#: 850GB        Make/Model: EXP       Description: EXP- APACHE SPORT
  Date: 09/14/2012     Time: 2130

  Event Type: Accident   Highest Injury: Fatal     Mid Air: N    Missing: N
  Damage: Destroyed

LOCATION
  City: VERMILLION   State: SD   Country: US

DESCRIPTION
  AIRCRAFT CRASHED UNDER UNKNOWN CIRCUMSTANCES. VERMILLION, SD

INJURY DATA      Total Fatal:   1
                 # Crew:   0     Fat:   1     Ser:   0     Min:   0     Unk:    
                 # Pass:   0     Fat:   0     Ser:   0     Min:   0     Unk:    
                 # Grnd:         Fat:   0     Ser:   0     Min:   0     Unk:    


OTHER DATA
  Activity: Pleasure      Phase: Unknown      Operation: OTHER


  FAA FSDO: RAPID CITY, SD  (GL27)                Entry date: 09/17/2012 

 
A small plane circles around the area where a pilot was killed in the crash of an ultralight airplane in a cornfield west of the Vermillion airport Friday afternoon. 
(Photo by David Lias)

http://registry.faa.gov/N850GB

 http://www.northwing.com/apache-trike.htm

VERMILLION — Bill Brown, who lives near the corner of 12th and Broadway streets below the bluff in lower Vermillion, is used to watching planes take off from Harold Davidson Field, the municipal airport located south of the city.

He knew by the sound coming from the sky that an ultralight aircraft he had been watching was in trouble.

The aircraft crashed in the middle of a cornfield located west of the city airport, killing its pilot.

“Standing here in my driveway, looking across the Vermillion River, I could see it,” Brown said. “It was sideways, with the wing straight up in the air, and the engine was full throttle, and I could see it going down.

“I knew something was wrong, and I heard it hit the ground across the river,” he said.

Brown hopped onto his four-wheeler and drove to the scene.

“I got within 10 to 15 feet of it (the plane), and I was scared to get any closer,” he said. “The cornfield was all on fire when I got there, and everything was totally engulfed.”

Brown said he called out into the field, but received no reply. “I was hollering over there, hoping that somebody would holler back. I didn’t know if they may have had a parachute on or not, but I didn’t hear anybody holler back.”

Brown also joined a chorus of concerned citizens who dialed the Clay Area Emergency Services Communications Center in Vermillion to report the crash and fire.

Calls began to be received at about 4:15 p.m. Friday, according to a press release from Vermillion Police Chief Matt Betzen.

Betzen said personnel from the offices of the Clay County Sheriff, Vermillion Fire Department, the city police department, the South Dakota Highway Patrol and the South Dakota Department of Criminal Investigation responded immediately to the crash area located in the middle of an unharvested cornfield.

Fire units extinguished the fire, which burned approximately two acres of corn, and found the pilot, the plane’s only occupant, deceased in the wreckage.

The name of the pilot has not been released, pending final identification and notification of family members.

The crash area has been secured by the officers of the county sheriff’s department, pending the arrival of Federal Aviation Administration officials who will investigate the cause of the crash.
Source:   http://www.plaintalk.net

The pilot of a single-person plane crash died Friday afternoon in a cornfield just west of Vermillion’s Harold Davidson Field Airport, a release from the Vermillion police said.

 The man was found in the wreckage, and died at the scene. His name is being withheld by police until family is notified, the release continued.

The pilot was flying a trike, an ultralight aircraft that works like a powered hang glider, when he crashed, said Denny Martens, the airport’s manager.

Police received reports of the crash at 4:15 p.m., and responded to the scene in the middle of an unharvested cornfield. The fire department proceeded in extinguishing a fire caused by the crash that burned approximately two acres of corn, the release said.

Debris and smoke loomed above the airfield as responders from the Clay County Sheriff’s Office, the Vermillion police and fire departments, S.D. Highway Patrol and DCI arrived.

Authorities do not know what caused the crash, but the area is being secured as members of the FAA arrive to investigate the accident.

India: Cabinet to consider FDI in aviation, broadcast sectors

Nigeria aviation industry is dying gradually – Captain Dele Ore

 

The President of the Aviation Roundtable, Captain Dele Ore on Friday said the aviation industry in Nigeria is dying gradually. 

 Captain Ore disclosed this on Channels Television’s Business Morning against the background of the recent controversies surrounding the crash, suspension and reinstatement of Dana airline. 

He said it is unfortunate to have a sector that is supposed to be in the driver’s seat ahead of other sector in the economy dying gradually.

Piper PA-28-180 Cherokee, N7971W: Accident occurred September 14, 2012 in French Valley, California

http://registry.faa.gov/N7971W

NTSB Identification: WPR12CA419  
14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Friday, September 14, 2012 in French Valley, CA
Probable Cause Approval Date: 12/19/2012
Aircraft: PIPER PA-28-180, registration: N7971W
Injuries: 1 Minor,1 Uninjured.

NTSB investigators used data provided by various entities, including, but not limited to, the Federal Aviation Administration and/or the operator and did not travel in support of this investigation to prepare this aircraft accident report.

The airplane drifted across the runway centerline during the final approach, and the pilot applied corrective control input. A gusting crosswind and high temperatures were present, and, as such, he continued the approach with the flaps retracted. He corrected for the wind by lowering the left wing, and applying right rudder control. During the flare, the wind direction shifted to a quartering tailwind, and the airplane veered to the right. Unable to keep the airplane over the runway, the pilot applied full engine power and initiated a go-around. The engine responded, but the airplane did not climb as expected, and its main landing gear made contact with the vertical stabilizer of an airplane on the taxiway. The airplane subsequently settled and landed in the adjacent parking apron, where it collided with five parked airplanes. The accident airplane’s left wing was substantially damaged, and all five parked airplanes also sustained substantial damage. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation.

The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident to be:
The pilot’s loss of directional control during a go-around following a sudden change in wind direction.


The airplane drifted across the runway centerline during the final approach, and the pilot applied corrective control input. Gusting crosswind and high temperatures were present, and as such, he continued the approach with the flaps retracted. He corrected for the wind by lowering the left wing, and applying right rudder control. During the flare, the wind direction shifted to a quartering tailwind, and the airplane veered to the right. Unable to keep the airplane over the runway, he applied full engine power and initiated a go-around. The engine responded, but the airplane did not climb as expected, and its main landing gear made contact with the vertical stabilizer of an airplane on the taxiway. The airplane subsequently settled and landed in the adjacent parking apron, where it collided with five parked airplanes. Both the accident airplane, and all five parked airplanes, sustained substantial damage. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation.


 
 


 

 




A pilot coming in for a landing Friday at French Valley Airport lost control of his plane, which smashed into two aircraft and clipped several others on the ground.

Riverside County sheriff's Sgt. Dean Spivacke said one passenger in a taxiing plane that took the initial hit suffered minor injuries.

Preliminary investigation indicates the pilot of the Piper Cherokee 180 that was landing lost control after it was struck by a strong gust of wind about 2 p.m.

"It was quite breezy today, and he caught a crosswind that threw him off course," Spivacke said.
In addition to the landing plane, about a half-dozen others were damaged, the sergeant said. All the planes involved were of the small propeller-driven variety.

Spivacke said officials with the National Transportation Safety Board and Federal Aviation Administration had been notified and would be probing further into the incident.

The pilot declined to talk to a reporter when contacted at the airport on Sky Canyon Drive east of Temecula.

FAA records indicate the plane was registered to Chad Hutchins of Flagstaff, Ariz.

Inside the airport cafe shortly before the incident occurred, Menifee resident Todd Greene was having a burger and Stan Smith was polishing off fish and chips when they saw the Cherokee approaching nearer to the building than normal.

"Stan saw it first and he said, 'Look at that,'" said Greene, himself a pilot. "When I looked up and saw how close it was, I knew it was a problem."

Smith said they watched as the Piper appeared to bounce up in the air and land on top of a taxiing Cessna 172 containing a pilot and a passenger.

Although the Cessna's cockpit was smashed in, the pilot apparently escaped injury and the passenger was reportedly not not seriously hurt.

"She was able to walk away from it," Smith said.

The runaway plane came to a halt after it made a direct hit on Roy Haggard's Cessna 180 Taildragger, splitting the rear section of the fuselage in two.

Haggard said he had just returned to his home on the Santa Rosa Plateau after flying back from Catalina Island when he got a call from a mechanic at the airport.

"I got a phone call that said, 'You better start shopping for a new airplane because yours is in two pieces,'" Haggard said.

He valued the plane at between $80,000 and $90,000.

"I spent the last year just really cleaning it up," he said. "The goal was to get it to where we could go to Alaska. It takes a lot of work when you buy a used airplane to make it how you want it to be."

He was thankful, however, that he and his wife weren't in the plane when it was struck and that there were no deaths or major injuries.

"That's a gift," he said.

Given the cost of aircraft, the damages may total more than a half-million dollars, based on observers' estimates.

The airport runway remained open throughout the day, and the accident scene was confined to one section of the tarmac.

A representative of the airport's operator said he expected the damaged planes to be removed sometime Friday night after federal officials inspect the scene.
Mused Haggard as he surveyed the damage, "Who would have thought parking in an airport could be dangerous?"

 http://www.nctimes.com

An attempted landing at French Valley Airport went awry, injuring one of the aircraft’s occupants and damaging at least half-dozen planes on the ground. 

 The crash was reported around 2 p.m. on the airstrip on Sky Canyon Drive, according to sheriff’s Sgt. Dean Spivacke.

“Tentatively, the pilot caught cross winds, came in and clipped a plane that was on a taxi,” the sergeant said.

The plane then crashed onto the runway and barreled into several other unoccupied aircraft.

One person in the landing plane was taken to the hospital for evaluation of minor injuries, according to a news release from the Riverside County Fire Department/ Cal Fire. A second person in the plane was not injured, the release said.

Spivacke said a female passenger was the injured party. The pilot walked away, he said.

Bobbi-Joe Lyman, a server at the French Valley Café, saw the crash.

“I looked out and saw it come in, come down and just go into all those airplanes,” she said. “I was in shock.

“Did this really just happen?”

The plane stopped when it ran nose-first into the side of a parked aircraft.

Roy Haggard, the owner of the plane that was hit, got a phone call and rushed to the airport.

He noted the winds were bad for a flight.

“It’s a really gusty day, and when it’s gusty, (the planes) get pushed,” he said.


A small aircraft crashed just before 2:30 p.m. today at French Valley Airport located in the 37500 block of Winchester Rd., according to a Riverside County Fire Department report.

The pilot was uninjured and his passenger, a female, was transported to an area hospital with complaints of pain.

According to witnesses at the scene, the fixed wing, single-engine Piper Cherokee was airborne before crashing into at least six other airplanes parked near the cafe.

Witnesses were unable to confirm whether or not the plane was taking off or landing when it clipped the tops of the first few parked planes before colliding into the others upon landing.

At least six planes sustained damage — three were leaking fuel — however, first responder radio transmissions indicated as many as eight airplanes may have been hit in the crash.

No other injuries were reported.

A plane crashed Friday at the French Valley Airport while the pilot was attempting to land.

Around 2 p.m., the plane was landing when it struck a taxing aircraft, according to authorities.

The plane then went out of control and crash into at least a half-dozen parked aircraft.

One person in the landing plane was taken to the hospital for evaluation of minor injuries, according to a news release from the Riverside County Fire Department/ Cal Fire. A second person in the plane was not injured, the release said.