Saturday, October 06, 2012

Seaplanes could help save lives if big quake hits Seattle area


 

The Kenmore Air dock at the north end of Lake Washington could go from airport to triage station.

In an emergency, pilots would fly injured patients from other places around Western Washington here so they could be transferred to larger aircraft and flown to hospitals east of the Cascades with room to take them.

On Saturday, seaplane pilots prepared for the big earthquake, which would knock out bridges, roads and even runways.

A seaplane could still get around where there's water. Many are also equipped to land on runways.

“I'm trying to see how much of a viable source this is and how we could utilize this in the event we have a disaster within the City of Seattle,” said Lt. Eric Grant, Seattle Fire Dept. Station 6

The Seattle Fire Department is just one agency that wants to find out more about what seaplanes can do.

The Coast Guard Auxiliary and the Washington National Guard were there to help.

“We provide resources for local communities if they ever ran out, particularly communications assets,” said Monte Simpson, Radio Liaison, Washington State Guard.

Since the seaplane pilots held a large fly in at Lake Whatcom back in May, pilots in Oregon, Idaho and British Columbia are looking to join forces. Washington pilots are also in contact with the Federal Emergency Management Agency. 

Beechcraft A36 Bonanza, N32GP: Accident occurred October 06, 2012 in Mabank, Texas

http://registry.faa.gov/N32GP 

NTSB Identification: CEN13FA006
14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Saturday, October 06, 2012 in Mabank, TX
Aircraft: BEECH A36, registration: N32GP
Injuries: 4 Fatal.

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.

HISTORY OF FLIGHT

On October 6, 2012, about 0945 central daylight time, a Beech A36 airplane, N32GP, impacted terrain during a descent near Mabank, Texas. The pilot, pilot rated passenger and two other passengers were fatally injured. The airplane's airframe and engine were destroyed. The airplane was registered to and operated by Palm-L Aviation LLC under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Instrument flight rules conditions (IFR) conditions prevailed for the flight, which operated on an activated IFR flight plan. The flight originated from the Northwest Regional Airport (52F), near Roanoke, Texas, about 0845, and was destined for the Athens Municipal Airport (F44), near Athens, Texas.

The pilot obtained a Direct User Access Terminal Service weather briefing at 1526 on the afternoon prior to the flight. There were no records of any updated briefings on the morning of the flight.

The airplane was based at 52F and witnesses saw the airplane depart from there between 0830 and 0900.

According to a copy of the pilot's flight plan, the listed route of flight was direct from 52F to F44 and no alternate airport was entered. The listed departure airport, 52F, did not have Jet-A fuel service. However, both F44 and the Terrell Municipal Airport (TRL), near Terrell, Texas, have services that dispense Jet-A fuel. An IFR flight plan from F44 to the Fletcher Field Airport, near Clarksdale, Mississippi, was also on file.

According to air traffic control (ATC) information received from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the flight encountered low clouds at F44 and requested a clearance to TRL. The flight was provided the clearance to TRL and subsequently given a frequency change. The FAA’s last reported radar return from the airplane was at 0944:23 at a pressure altitude of 2,900 feet. No further radio transmissions were received.


PERSONNEL INFORMATION

The pilot held a private pilot certificate, with an airplane single-engine land and instrument airplane ratings. The pilot's most recent FAA third-class medical certificate was issued on August 31, 2011. The medical certificate had a limitation for corrective lenses. At that time, he reported that he had accumulated 340 hours of total flight time and had accumulated no flight time during the six months prior to that application. The pilot recorded in his logbook that he had accumulated 568.5 hours of total flight time and had accumulated 219.5 hours in turbine-powered airplanes. An endorsement, dated May 18, 2012, indicated that the pilot had completed the training required for operating pressurized aircraft. Another endorsement, dated February 16, 2012, indicated that the pilot satisfactorily completed an instrument proficiency check. An endorsement for a current flight review was not located in the pilot’s logbook.

The pilot-rated passenger held a private pilot certificate with a single-engine land rating. His most recent FAA third-class medical certificate was issued on April 26, 2012. The medical certificate had a limitation for corrective lenses. At that time, he reported that he had accumulated 130 hours of total flight time and had accumulated no flight time during the six months prior to that application.


AIRCRAFT INFORMATION

N32GP, a 1985-model Beech A36, serial number E-2230, was a low wing, single-engine, six-place monoplane, which had retractable tricycle landing gear. According to FAA airworthiness records, the airplane was powered by a Rolls Royce 250-B17C turbine engine, which was installed in accordance with a Soloy Conversions, Ltd., supplemental type certificate SA3523NM. The installation was approved on a major repair and alteration form dated July 3, 1986. The engine drove a Hartzell, three-bladed, all-metal, constant-speed propeller. An airplane logbook endorsement indicated the airplane had its last annual inspection completed on December 13, 2011. At that time, the airplane had accumulated 2,451.8 hours of total time and the engine accumulated 854 hours of total time. That endorsement entry also indicated that the engine accumulated 205.6 hours since overhaul and 205 cycles since overhaul. A review of logbook entries and mechanic's statements did not reveal any unresolved maintenance or airworthiness issues.


METEOROLOGICAL INFORMATION

The National Weather Service had issued an Airman’s Meteorological Information advisory that was current at the time period of the accident for IFR conditions in the area surrounding the flight.

At 0953, about 324 degrees and 17 miles from the accident site, the recorded weather at TRL was: wind 020 degrees at 10 knots; visibility 10 statute miles; overcast clouds at 600 feet; temperature 12 degrees C; dew point 9 degrees C; altimeter 30.16 inches of mercury.

At 0935, about 149 degrees and 23 miles from the accident site, the recorded weather at F44 was: wind 020 at 7 knots; visibility 3 statute miles; present weather mist; sky condition overcast clouds at 500 feet; temperature 14 degrees C; dew point 13 degrees C; altimeter 30.12 inches of mercury.

A pilot who was flying in the area about 15 nautical miles northeast of the accident site took pictures of the flight conditions present about 0950. The images exhibited low overcast clouds above the airplane. The pilot’s images are attached to the docket material associated with this case.


WRECKAGE AND IMPACT INFORMATION

The airplane impacted a field about one-half nautical mile east of the intersection of Farm to Market Road 90 and Van Zandt County Road 2702. A debris path started at an egg-shaped impact depression that was about 12 feet long and about two feet deep. The wreckage path continued on an observed heading of about 300 degrees and extended about 200 feet. The airplane was fragmented along this path with a section of the fuselage coming to rest about 95 feet from the start of the depression and the engine coming to rest about 190 feet from the start of the depression. All major components of the airplane were accounted for at the accident site.

All flight control cables were traced. All observed control cable separations had a broom straw appearance consistent with overload. The left and right wing flap jackscrew actuator measurements corresponded to a zero degree flap setting. The aileron trim actuator measurement was consistent with a neutral setting. The landing gear linkage position was consistent with retracted landing gear. The engine separated from the airframe. Debris, consistent with ingested dirt, was found in the engine’s compressor section. Fuel was found in the fuel pump filter bowl. The fuel shutoff valve handle was separated from its valve housing and light could be seen through a valve housing end when a flashlight illuminated the other end. The propeller was separated from the engine. Two propeller blades remained attached to their hub and they exhibited chordwise abrasions. The separated blade exhibited S-shaped bending and chordwise abrasion. Both vacuum pumps were disassembled and their rotors exhibited impact damage. All vanes in both pumps were intact. The attitude indicator was disassembled and its gyro and cage exhibited rotational scoring. The emergency locator beacon was found within the wreckage debris and it was crushed. Due to impact damage, the total fuel on board the airplane at the time of the accident could not be confirmed.


MEDICAL AND PATHOLOGICAL INFORMATION

An autopsy was performed on the pilot at the Southwestern Institute of Forensic Sciences at Dallas. The cause of death was listed as blunt force injuries.

The FAA Civil Aerospace Medical Institute prepared a Final Forensic Toxicology Accident Report on the pilot. The report was negative for the tests performed.


TESTS AND RESEARCH

Annunciator Panels

Two annunciator panels were retained and subsequently examined by a Chemist in the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) Materials Laboratory. The report showed that the filaments exhibited inconclusive findings. The report is appended to the docket material associated with this case.

Search and Rescue Actions

According to a NTSB National Resource Analyst, radio and radar contact with the aircraft was lost at 0944. The FAA issued an alert notice reporting loss of contact at 1022. The Air Force Rescue Coordination Center opened a search mission and engaged a Civil Air Patrol (CAP) radar analyst at 1135. The CAP analyst reported an initial radar position at 1319, but the analyst did not have access to all of the FAA radar data. In particular, the analyst did not have access to information from the airport surveillance radar located at Sachse, Texas, the closest radar site to the aircraft. Consequently, the initial position provided to search teams was incorrect. At 1834, the CAP informed the rescue coordination center that, based on radar data, "...they have strong reason to believe that the aircraft is within the area of Terrell, Texas..." and that CAP aircraft and ground teams were headed to the Terrell area.

At about 1630, after being notified by the Investigator in Charge that the aircraft was still missing, an NTSB radar analyst joined a teleconference involving FAA personnel from Fort Worth Air Route Traffic Control Center, Fort Worth Approach Control, the Central Service Area Quality Control Group, and headquarters staff from the FAA Compliance Services group, who provide search and rescue support assistance to local ATC facilities upon request. When it became apparent that neither the FAA or the CAP had been able to review the Sachse radar site's data, the NTSB analyst asked to obtain the file. The radar file was provided by Fort Worth approach control at 1942. The NTSB analyst reviewed the information and determined a last known position for the missing aircraft by 1956. The information was provided to Fort Worth Center at 2008 for relay to a sheriff's helicopter involved in the search, and the wreckage was located about 2025 within 0.2 nautical miles of the last known position provided by the NTSB, which was approximately 10 miles southeast of the area being searched by CAP based on their earlier radar assessment not using Sachse data.


 NTSB Identification: CEN13FA006 
 14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Saturday, October 06, 2012 in Mabank, TX
Aircraft: BEECH A36, registration: N32GP
Injuries: 4 Fatal.

This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this report will be corrected when the final report has been completed. NTSB investigators either traveled in support of this investigation or conducted a significant amount of investigative work without any travel, and used data obtained from various sources to prepare this aircraft accident report.

On October 6, 2012, about 0945 central daylight time, a Beech A36 airplane, N32GP, impacted terrain during a descent near Mabank, Texas. The pilot, pilot rated passenger and two other passengers were fatally injured. The airplane sustained substantial airframe and engine damage. The airplane was registered to Palm-L Aviation LLC and was operated by the pilot under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Instrument flight rules conditions (IFR) conditions prevailed for the flight, which operated on an activated IFR flight plan. The flight originated from the Northwest Regional Airport (52F), near Roanoke, Texas, about 0845, and was destined for the Athens Municipal Airport (F44), near Athens, Texas.

The airplane was based at 52F and witnesses saw the airplane depart from there between 0830 and 0900. The departure airport, 52F, did not dispense Jet-A fuel.

According to preliminary air traffic control (ATC) information received from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the flight encountered weather at F44 and requested a clearance to Terrell Municipal Airport (TRL), near Terrell, Texas. The flight was provided the clearance to TRL and subsequently given a frequency change. The FAA’s last reported radar return from the airplane was at 0944:23 at a pressure altitude of 2,900 feet. No further radio transmissions were received.

Both F44 and TRL have services that dispense Jet-A fuel. An IFR flight plan from F44 to the Fletcher Field Airport, near Clarksdale, Mississippi, was on file.

The pilot held a private pilot certificate, with an airplane single engine land and instrument airplane ratings. The pilot's most recent FAA third-class medical certificate was issued on August 31, 2011. The medical certificate had a limitation for corrective lenses. At that time, he reported that he had accumulated 340 hours of total flight time and had accumulated no flight time during the six months prior to that application.

The pilot rated passenger held a private pilot certificate with a single engine land rating. His most recent FAA third-class medical certificate was issued on April 26, 2012. The medical certificate had a limitation for corrective lenses. At that time, he reported that he had accumulated 130 hours of total flight time and had accumulated no flight time during the six months prior to that application.

N32GP, a 1985-model Beech A36, serial number E-2230, was a low wing, single-engine, six-place monoplane, which had retractable tricycle landing gear. According to FAA airworthiness records, the airplane was powered by a Rolls Royce 250-B17C turbine engine, which was installed in accordance with a Soloy Conversions, Ltd., supplemental type certificate SA3523NM. The installation was approved on major repair and alteration form dated July 3, 1986. The engine drove a Hartzell, 3-bladed, all-metal, constant-speed propeller.

At 0953, the recorded weather at TRL was: wind 020 degrees at 10 knots; visibility 10 statute miles; overcast clouds at 600 feet; temperature 12 degrees C; dew point 9 degrees C; altimeter 30.16 inches of mercury.

The airplane impacted a field about one-half nautical mile east of the intersection of Farm to Market Road 90 and Van Zandt County Road 2702. A debris path started at an egg-shaped impact depression that was about 12 feet long and about two feet deep. The path continued on an observed heading of about 300 degrees and extended about 200 feet. The airplane was fragmented along this path with a section of the fuselage coming to rest about 95 feet from the start of the depression and the engine coming to rest about 190 feet from the start of the depression. All major components of the airplane were accounted for at the accident site.

All flight control cables were traced. All observed control cable separations had a broom straw appearance consistent with overload. The left and right wing flap jackscrew actuator measurements corresponded to a zero degree flap setting. The aileron trim actuator measurement was consistent with a neutral setting. The landing gear linkage position was consistent with retracted landing gear. The engine separated from the airframe. Debris was found in the engine’s turbine section. Fuel was found in the fuel pump filter bowl. The fuel shutoff valve handle was separated from its valve housing and light could be seen through a valve housing end when a flashlight illuminated the other end. The propeller was separated from the engine. Two propeller blades remained attached to their hub and they exhibited chordwise abrasions. The separated blade exhibited S-shaped bending and chordwise abrasion. Both vacuum pumps were disassembled and their rotors exhibited impact damage. All vanes in both pumps were intact. The attitude indicator was disassembled and its gyro and cage exhibited rotational scoring. The emergency locator beacon was found within the wreckage debris and it was crushed. Due to impact damage, the total fuel on board the airplane at the time of the accident could not be confirmed.

Radar data and communication records have been requested from the FAA for a National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) ATC Factual Report. Two annunciator panels have been retained and will be examined at the NTSB Materials Laboratory.


FAA IDENTIFICATION
  Regis#: 32GP        Make/Model: BE36      Description: 36 Bonanza
  Date: 10/06/2012     Time: 1445

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

LOCATION
  City: TERRELL   State: TX   Country: US

DESCRIPTION
  AIRCRAFT CRASHED UNDER UNKNOWN CIRCUMSTANCES. TERRELL, TX

INJURY DATA      Total Fatal:   4
                 # Crew:   0     Fat:   1     Ser:   0     Min:   0     Unk:    
                 # Pass:   0     Fat:   3     Ser:   0     Min:   0     Unk:    
                 # Grnd:         Fat:   0     Ser:   0     Min:   0     Unk:    


OTHER DATA
  Activity: Unknown      Phase: Unknown      Operation: OTHER


  FAA FSDO: DALLAS, TX  (SW05)                    Entry date: 10/09/2012 



 


Photo Courtesy of the Department of Public Safety 
Debris from the crash of a single-engine Beechcraft Bonanza plane cover a wide field outside Mabank, where it went down just inside Van Zandt County on Saturday killing the pilot, co-pilot and two teenage passengers. First responders arrived at the crash site at 8:30 p.m. off VZCR 2702 and half mile from FM 90.


 
A Weslaco dentist, his brother and his two sons were killed in a plane crash on Saturday.



RAW VIDEO: Aerial view of Van Zandt County plane crash

 VAN ZANDT COUNTY (CBSDFW.COM) – Medical examiners have confirmed that two teenagers were among four people who died in a plane crash that happened Saturday. 

 The Van Zandt County Justice of the Peace Court has identified the victims as 62-year-old Gregory Ledet, 60-year-old Donald Ledet and his two sons Paul and Mason.

17-year-old Paul and 13-year-old Mason were both students in the Carroll Independent School District.

Caroll ISD released the following statement on Sunday with the permission of the Ledet family: “The family thanks everyone for their thoughts and prayers – particularly the prayers – during this difficult time. They ask that you please respect their privacy as they grieve the loss of their loved ones.



Source:  http://dfw.cbslocal.com

 

Bad weather may be factor in fatal plane crash 


SOUTHLAKE — Investigators are looking for the cause of Saturday's small plane crash in Van Zandt County that claimed the lives of all four on board.

The single-engine Beechcraft Bonanza left Northwest Regional Airport in Roanoke at 9:09 a.m. Saturday. It circled around near Terrell before disappearing from radar about 30 minutes later.

The wreckage wasn't located until late Saturday night in the middle of a pasture.

The manager of Northwest Regional Airport told News 8 he saw the plane's owner — Dr. Leonard Ledet — before taking off on Saturday. The plane is registered to the Southlake dentist and also to a company called Palm-L Aviation.

The airport manager said Ledet had been flying his Beechcraft Bonanza out of Northwest Regional for the past year, often traveling with his brother.

Saturday's flight plan included a stop in Athens, Texas, for fuel. But the plane diverted to Terrell, possibly due to poor weather conditions.

A Texas Department of Public Safety helicopter spotted the wreckage just before 9 p.m. Saturday, about 7 miles short of a runway.

Pilot Leonard Ledet and his son Paul have been confirmed as two of the victims. Investigators are withholding the names of the other two passengers.

Christopher Browning worked with Paul Ledet at Urban Air Trampoline Park in Southlake. He got a phone call at 2 a.m. Sunday alerting him to the tragic news.

"He just brought so much joy, and he was really, really good," Browning said. "He was one of those people we wanted interacting with the customers because he really brought to the facility just so much joy, and I just can't explain."

The National Transportation Safety Board and the Federal Aviation Administration are investigating the cause of the crash.

http://www.wfaa.com

 
Photo Credit: WFAA

  Investigators on Sunday examined wreckage of the Beechcraft Bonanza aircraft that crashed in a rural Van Zandt County pasture on Saturday.

 
Photo Credit: WFAA

  Photo Credit: WFAA

  Photo Credit: WFAA

  Photo Credit: WFAA

  Photo Credit: WFAA

 Photo Credit: WFAA

 Photo Credit: WFAA

 Photo Credit: WFAA

 Photo Credit: WFAA

 Photo Credit: WFAA

  Photo Credit: WFAA

  Photo Credit: WFAA

  Photo Credit: WFAA

  Photo Credit: WFAA

  Photo Credit: WFAA













VAN ZANDT COUNTY — The wreckage of a small plane that disappeared from radar near Terrell on Saturday morning was found hours later in rural Van Zandt County. All four people on board were killed.

An all-day search by the Civil Air Patrol and law enforcement personnel started around 9:40 a.m., shortly after the Beechcraft Bonanza took off from Northwest Regional Airport in Roanoke and the pilot lost communication with the control tower.

The Federal Aviation Administration said the last reported position of the aircraft with tail number N32GP was about 25 miles southeast of Terrell.

The wreckage was discovered by a Department of Public Safety helicopter in a pasture near the intersection of FM 90 and County Road 2702 in Van Zandt County, about 25 miles southeast of Kaufman and 22 miles southwest of Canton.

Aerial views of the scene by daylight Sunday showed only small pieces of the aircraft remained, scattered over a wide area of the pasture.

The crash site was more than half a mile from the nearest road. Rescue personnel had to walk part of the way because of muddy terrain.

No additional information was available about the identity of the pilot or the passengers. An FAA spokesman said the plane was registered to an address in Southlake.

Federal records show that the plane that crashed had six seats and was built in 1985.

The Beechcraft Bonanza is a single-engine plane that has been in continuous production since 1947.

Saturday's tragedy is the second deadly crash in the past two weeks of a plane that took off from Northwest Regional Airport in Roanoke.

Last month, Charlie Yates and Chris Pratt died shortly after takeoff. Yates — a flight instructor — was helping Pratt "brush up" on his flying skills when the Piper Arrow lost altitude.

The NTSB is still investigating the cause of that crash.

 http://www.wfaa.com

The Texas Department of Safety confirmed one of its helicopters located a downed aircraft with four fatalities late Saturday night near Terrell.  The crash scene is near the State Highway 243 and Farm-To-Market Road 47.

The Federal Aviation Administration confirmed a Beechcraft Bonanza aircraft departed Northwest Regional Airport in Roanoke around 9:40 a.m. Saturday.  It was bound for Mississippi.  Controllers lost radar and radio contact with the plane 25 miles southeast of Terrell in Kaufman County. 

The tail number of plane belongs to a company based in Southlake.

NBC 5 went to the Northwest Regional Airport in Roanoke on Saturday night but no one was available for comment.

This is the second fatal crash in two weeks involving a plane that departed the Northwest Regional Airport in Roanoke. A pilot and flight instructor died September 23 shortly after takeoff. The cause of that crash is still under investigation.


VAN ZANDT COUNTY — The wreckage of a small plane that went missing near Terrell on Saturday morning was found hours later in rural Van Zandt County. All four people on board were killed.

An all-day search by the Civil Air Patrol and law enforcement personnel started around 9:40 a.m., shortly after the Beechcraft Bonanza took off from Northwest Regional Airport in Roanoke and the pilot lost communication with the control tower.

The Federal Aviation Administration said the last reported position of the aircraft with tail number N32GP was about 25 miles southeast of Terrell.

The wreckage was discovered near the intersection of FM 90 and County Road 2702 in Van Zandt County, about 25 miles southeast of Kaufman and 22 miles southwest of Canton.

No additional information was available about the identity of the pilot or the passengers. An FAA spokesman said the plane was registered to an address in Southlake.

Federal records show that the plane that crashed had six seats and was built in 1985.  The Beechcraft Bonanza is a single-engine plane that has been in continuous production since 1947.

http://www.kltv.com

http://www.dallasnews.com

 http://www.wfaa.com

http://www.star-telegram.com


VAN ZANDT COUNTY — The wreckage of a small plane that disappeared from radar near Terrell on Saturday morning was found hours later in rural Van Zandt County. All four people on board were killed.

An all-day search by the Civil Air Patrol and law enforcement personnel started around 9:40 a.m., shortly after the Beechcraft Bonanza took off from Northwest Regional Airport in Roanoke and the pilot lost communication with the control tower.

The Federal Aviation Administration said the last reported position of the aircraft with tail number N32GP was about 25 miles southeast of Terrell.

The wreckage was discovered by a Department of Public Safety helicopter in a pasture near the intersection of FM 90 and County Road 2702 in Van Zandt County, about 25 miles southeast of Kaufman and 22 miles southwest of Canton.

The crash site was more than half a mile from the nearest road. Rescue personnel had to walk part of the way because of muddy terrain.

No additional information was available about the identity of the pilot or the passengers. An FAA spokesman said the plane was registered to an address in Southlake.

Federal records show that the plane that crashed had six seats and was built in 1985.

The Beechcraft Bonanza is a single-engine plane that has been in continuous production since 1947.

Saturday's tragedy is the second deadly crash in the past two weeks of a plane that took off from Northwest Regional Airport in Roanoke.

Last month, Charlie Yates and Chris Pratt died shortly after takeoff. Yates — a flight instructor — was helping Pratt "brush up" on his flying skills when the Piper Arrow lost altitude.

The NTSB is still investigating the cause of that crash.

Stearman Fly-In rolls into Jennings, Louisiana

KPLC 7 News, Lake Charles, Louisiana 


JENNINGS, LA (KPLC) -  Willard Duke was an integral part of starting the Stearman Fly-In more than two decades ago.

"We do it once a year.  We've been doing it 28 years here right at this place" said Duke.

Dozens of age-old Steersman flyers lined the runways of the airfield in Jennings for people like Mike Sager to see first hand how airmen in World War II were trained.

"The Army, the Air Force, the Navy and the Coast Guard all used this as their primary trainer" said Sager.  "So if you were flying in the war, chances are you started in one of these aircraft".

The fly-in is put on by the city of Jennings and project coordinator Michelle Hebert says getting all of the historic planes in the same place every year, helps teach younger generations the history of aviation.

"For example, we have a plane over here that's number 37... this one was actually used by the Tuskegee Airmen" Hebert explained.  "It's registered with the Smithsonian Institute and there's not many left out there and I think it's important for the kids to see what aviation used to be like compared to what it is today".

Lessons from the past to inspire new hobbies in the future.  The Stearman Fly-In proved to be fun for the whole family.

"I fly all the time because the airstrip is in my backyard and I live next to my grandparents that actually have the hangar with all three of our planes" said flyer Lyndsey Sager.

This year marked the 32 year for the fly-in event.

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

Cirrus SR22 GTS, Two Flyers LLC, N80KW: Accident occurred October 06, 2012 in Birmingham, Alabama



http://registry.faa.gov/N80KW

NTSB Identification: ERA13LA012  
14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Saturday, October 06, 2012 in Birmingham, AL
Probable Cause Approval Date: 04/25/2013
Aircraft: CIRRUS DESIGN CORP SR22, registration: N80KW
Injuries: 1 Serious,1 Minor.

NTSB investigators may not have traveled in support of this investigation and used data provided by various sources to prepare this aircraft accident report.

The airplane was in instrument meteorological conditions, and the pilot intended to fly an instrument landing system approach. Review of non-volatile memory data revealed that the autopilot approach mode was armed as the airplane intercepted the localizer course and was descending toward 2,600 feet mean sea level (msl). At that time, the autopilot was selected to vertical speed (VS) mode with the altitude armed rather than selected to the altitude mode, which is one of the criteria for automatically arming the glideslope (GS) mode later in the approach. About 1 minute later, the autopilot automatically cancelled the VS mode and switched to altitude mode as the airplane reached 2,600 feet msl. However, at that time the airplane was above the glideslope by 53 percent needle deflection. The autopilot will not automatically arm the GS mode unless, in addition to the altitude mode being selected, the airplane is more than 10 percent needle deflection below the glideslope. As a result, the airplane remained above the glideslope until the autopilot was disconnected about 1 minute later. The pilot then attempted to hand-fly a missed approach; however, he was unable to maintain the heading or altitude assigned by air traffic control. He subsequently lost control of the airplane during a turn and elected to deploy the airplane's parachute system. The airplane came to rest in a vacant lot.

The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident to be:
The pilot's failure to maintain airplane control during a missed approach in instrument meteorological conditions. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's overreliance on the autopilot system and his inability to hand-fly the airplane once the autopilot was disconnected.

On October 6, 2012, at 1217 central daylight time, a Cirrus SR22, N80KW, operated by a private individual, was substantially damaged during impact with terrain, after deployment of the Cirrus Airplane Parachute System (CAPS), following a loss of control during a missed approach at Birmingham International Airport (BHM), Birmingham, Alabama. The private pilot incurred minor injuries and the passenger was seriously injured. The personal flight was conducted under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed and an instrument flight rules flight plan was filed for the flight that departed Charles B Wheeler Downtown Airport (MKC), Kansas City, Missouri; destined for BHM.

The pilot stated that while on the instrument landing system approach to runway 6 at BHM, he reported missed approach at 2,000 feet mean sea level (msl) to the BHM air traffic control tower. The tower controller instructed the pilot to fly the runway heading; however, the pilot reported to the controller that he was unable due to weather. The tower controller then instructed the pilot to fly a heading of 180 degrees and climb to 4,000 feet. The pilot acknowledged the instruction and during the turn, lost control of the airplane. He then observed the altimeter indicating a descent through 1,700 feet and elected to deploy the CAPS. The airplane subsequently descended via parachute and came to rest in a commercial parking lot, about 2 miles south of BHM.

Review of Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) recorded radio communications between N80KW and BHM tower revealed that after the pilot declared a missed approach, the tower controller instructed the pilot to fly runway heading and climb to 4,000 feet. The pilot replied "Okay, I'm way off of runway heading…" and did not make any mention of not being able to turn due to weather. The controller then instructed the pilot twice to climb to 4,000 feet and make a left turn to 360 degrees as the airplane was approaching an antenna to the south. After a third query, the pilot replied that he was "going, trying to get around." About 20 seconds later, the pilot reported that he was "going down."

Examination of the airplane by an FAA inspector revealed substantial damage to the fuselage and a puncture of the left wing near the left main landing gear.

The airplane was equipped with an Avidyne primary flight display (PFD), which was forwarded to the NTSB Vehicle Recorder Laboratory, Washington, DC. The unit contained non-volatile memory, which was successfully downloaded. Review of the data revealed that the autopilot was engaged shortly after takeoff and remained on until 1215. At 1213, the autopilot approach mode was armed as the airplane was descending to 2,600 feet msl and had intercepted the localizer course. The autopilot was selected to vertical speed (VS) mode with the altitude armed, rather than the altitude mode. At 1214, the VS mode was automatically cancelled (and the autopilot automatically switched to altitude mode) as the airplane reached 2,600 feet; however, at that time the airplane was above the glideslope (GS) by 53 percent needle deflection. The airplane remained above the GS until the autopilot was disconnected at 1215 and the CAPS was deployed about 1217. According a representative from the PFD manufacturer, the autopilot would automatically arm the GS mode, provided seven criteria were met. Two of the seven criteria were altitude mode engaged and airplane no more than 10 percent needle deflection below GS (airplane above GS).

Review of the data did not reveal any preimpact mechanical malfunctions with the airplane, nor did the pilot report any. The pilot reported a total flight experience of 1,944.7 hours; of which, 1,450 hours were in the same make and model as the accident airplane. He reported 17 and 75 total hours of actual and simulated instrument experience, respectively.

The recorded weather at BHM, at 1153, included an overcast ceiling at 700 feet above ground level (1,350 msl).


 

 NTSB Identification: ERA13LA012 
 14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Saturday, October 06, 2012 in Birmingham, AL
Aircraft: CIRRUS DESIGN CORP SR22, registration: N80KW
Injuries: 1 Serious,1 Minor.

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 October 6, 2012, about 1215 central daylight time, a Cirrus SR22, N80KW, operated by a private individual, was substantially damaged during deployment of the Cirrus Airplane Parachute System (CAPS), following a loss of control during a missed approach at Birmingham International Airport (BHM), Birmingham, Alabama. The private pilot incurred minor injuries and the passenger was seriously injured. The personal flight was conducted under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed and an instrument flight rules flight plan was filed for the flight that departed Charles B Wheeler Downtown Airport (MKC), Kansas City, Missouri; destined for BHM.

The pilot stated that while on the instrument landing system approach to runway 6 at BHM, he reported missed approach at 2,000 feet to the BHM air traffic control tower. The tower controller instructed the pilot to fly the runway heading; however, the pilot reported to the controller that he was unable due to weather. The tower controller then instructed the pilot to fly a heading of 180 degrees and climb to 4,000 feet. The pilot acknowledged the instruction and during the turn, lost control of the airplane. He then observed the altimeter indicating a descent through 1,700 feet and elected to deploy the CAPS. The airplane subsequently descended and came to rest in a commercial parking lot, about 2 miles south of BHM.

Examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed damage to the fuselage and a puncture of the left wing near the left main landing gear.

The airplane was equipped with a remote data module (RDM), intended to record flight and engine parameters. The inspector recovered the RDM from the airplane and forwarded it to the NTSB Vehicle Recorders Laboratory, Washington, DC, for data download.

The recorded weather at BHM, at 1153, included an overcast ceiling at 700 feet above ground level (1350 feet above mean sea level).


IDENTIFICATION
  Regis#: 80KW        Make/Model: SR22      Description: SR-22
  Date: 10/06/2012     Time: 1717

  Event Type: Incident   Highest Injury: None     Mid Air: N    Missing: N
  Damage: Unknown

LOCATION
  City: BIRMINGHAM   State: AL   Country: US

DESCRIPTION
  AIRCRAFT CRASHED UNDER UNKNOWN CIRCUMSTANCES. BIRMINGHAM, AL

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


OTHER DATA
  Activity: Unknown      Phase: Unknown      Operation: OTHER


  FAA FSDO: BIRMINGHAM, AL  (SO09)                Entry date: 10/09/2012 

CBS42 speaks with Pilot Billy Sprague by phone. Sprague managed to crash land his single engine plane in the heart of Downtown Birmingham Alabama without hurting anyone. Sprague walked away without injury. His passenger suffered minor injuries. 

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WIAT)-- The lot outside of The Furnace a Birmingham gentlemen’s club, isn't usually reserved for aircrafts. On Saturday October 6th the pilot of a Cirrus SR22 was forced to make an emergency landing outside of the business near downtown Birmingham.

"He was in the clouds at the time. He kind of lost his bearings. He was in touch with the tower and was forced to make this emergency landing due to visibility problems,” said Birmingham Fire Department Battalion Chief C.W. Mardis.

Mardis says the pilot and one passenger inside the small plane were headed to Tampa from Kansas City and were attempting to refuel in Birmingham.

The pilot's experience and quick thinking aren't the only things being credited for his successful emergency landing.

A parachute attached to the plane served as a lifesaver.

"When you have a plane that small the parachute is a very vital component for safety so he did the right thing and we're glad he did and we came away basically he, unscathed and his passenger with minor injuries,” said Mardis.

Public Information Officer, Sgt. Johnny Williams with the Birmingham Police Department is grateful no one else was injured as a result of the crash.

“Maybe it was luck, maybe it was skill, maybe a little bit of both but we're happy that no one else was injured and no other property was damage."

The passenger was taken to UAB hospital with bumps and bruises, the pilot though visibly unharmed was also taken to the hospital to be checked out.

UPDATE: CBS 42 has confirmed that the pilot of this plane is Billy Wayne Sprague of Key West, Florida.








 A Cirrus SR22 aircraft crashed in an open field between 28th Street North and 2nd Avenue North, just east of downtown Birmingham. 

Police units responded to reports of a plane crash at 12:30 p.m., according to Johnny Williams, public information officer for Birmingham Police Department. 

"There were no injuries to anyone that was on the ground," Williams said. "We do have minor injuries to one female that was inside. The pilot walked away with no injuries." 

The female passenger was taken to UAB Hospital for treatment. 

The woman sustained body bruises and aches, according to C.W. Mardis, spokesman for the Birmingham Fire and Rescue Services. 

Mardis said the plane was scheduled to stop in Birmingham to refuel. He also reported 27 gallons of gasoline left on the plane, 10 of which were spilled in the crash. 

"We were able to put booms down and absorbent material to soak it all up," he said. "Right now we're waiting on NTSB to assess of the damage."

Williams said that the two were traveling from Kansas City, Missouri when the pilot radioed to the Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport citing problems. 

According to Mardis, the pilot was disoriented due to poor visibility. He then deployed a parachute attached to the plane.

"The parachute is part of the safety component," he said. 

According to the website Flightaware.com, the plane is registered to Two Flyers LLC in Key West, Florida. It left Kansas City at 9:18 a.m. central time and was scheduled to land in at Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport at 12:12 p.m.

Story, photos, video and comments:  http://blog.al.com
  
Birmingham Police are working a single-engine plane crash at the intersection of 2nd Avenue North and 28th Street SW. 

 Sgt. Johnnie Williams confirmed to ABC 33/40 that a male pilot along with a female passenger made a crash landing in a field near the gentlemen's club The Furnace.  The couple was flying to Tampa, Fla. from Kansas City, Missouri and planned to land at Birmingham International Airport to refuel, but low clouds caused poor visibility, leading to the accident.

Witnesses reported seeing a parachute deployed.  The Cirrus SR22 plane they were flying was equipped with the Cirrus Aircraft Parachute System.  In the event of an emergency like the one today, the plane's parachute is deployed assisting in slowing the descent of the aircraft to the ground.

The pilot was not hurt, but the female was taken to UAB Hospital with minor injuries.

According to FlightAware, the plane took off from Wheeler Downtown Airport in Kansas City at 9:18 a.m. and was schedule to land at BHM at 12:18 p.m., but instead landed in the field near The Furnace.  The plane had flown the same flight plan as the pilot's today, but with opposite destinations, just 10 days ago on September 27.  The plane made a stop in Birmingham that day in between flying from Peter O'Knight Airport in Tampa to Kansas City.


http://www.abc3340.com

 BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WIAT)-- The pilot of a Cirrus SR22 was forced to make an emergency landing in downtown Birmingham Saturday afternoon.

According to Birmingham Fire Chief C.W. Mardis the pilot and one passenger were headed to Tampa, FL from Kansas City. They were making a stop at the Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport to refuel when low visibility caused complications for the pilot.

Sgt. Johnny Williams with the Birmingham Police Department says the pilot walked away uninjured but was taken to the hospital as a precaution. The passenger suffered minor injuries and was transported to UAB Hospital.

Mardis credits the experience and quick thinking of the pilot for minimal their injuries and the safety of other who may have been in the area when the plane went down. A parachute attached to the plane helped with the landing.

UPDATE: CBS 42 has confirmed that the pilot of this plane is Billy Wayne Sprague of Key West, Florida.

Stay with us for the latest information.

  By Mark Almond

 Cirrus SR22, (N80KW) is shown after crash landing in a field near 28th Street and 2nd Ave. North about 12:12 p.m. in Birmingham, Ala., Saturday, Oct. 6, 2012. The plane is equipped with a parachute recovery system. The pilot was uninjured and a passenger had minor injuries and was taken to UAB hospital. 
  
By Mark Almond


By Mark Almond



 The plane came to rest in an overgrown field near downtown.
 (Photo by Mark Almond) 

 

BIRMINGHAM, Alabama - Birmingham police and fire departments are on the scene of a small plane crash just east of downtown, and one person has been taken to UAB Hospital with minor injuries. 


 The plane's pilot was uninjured, but his one passenger was taken to the hospital, according to police.

The plane, a Cirrus SR22, is in an overgrown grass field, just north of the intersection of Second Avenue and 28th Street North.


A parachute attached to the plane was deployed.


The plane landed slightly nose down, but there's no visible major damage.

Updated at 1:20 p.m. to report injury.


Story, photos and comments:   http://blog.al.com 

http://www.fotopedia.com

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WIAT)-- We have a crew on the scene of where a small plane went down in downtown Birmingham. Right now, officials are saying that it's a small, one engine plane with only two occupants. 

 The plane was coming from Kansas City, headed to the Birmingham airport. There was a parachute attached to the plane to assist in landing. The pilot walked away without injury but is being taken to hospital just as a precaution. The passenger suffered minor injuries.

Queensland man Greg Wilson auctioning homemade starship Reconnator 1 on eBay for $33,000

Greg Wilson with the trailer he has converted into a spaceship. 
Picture: Peter Wallis 
Source: The Sunday Mail (Qld)


THE truth is out there - just outside Toowoomba, in fact.

Looking like it just blasted out of a Flash Gordon comic, the Reconnator 1 is the fulfilment of a lifelong dream of Southbrook man Greg Wilson, who is auctioning the homemade starship on eBay for a cool $33,000.

"I always wanted to be an astronaut as a kid, I always wanted to go to the moon," Mr Wilson said.

"It's probably a reflection of everything I wanted in a space ship as a kid."

Trailer manufacturer, light aircraft pilot and self-confessed "space freak", Mr Wilson, 47, said he was inspired to build the 1950s-style rocket ship after a childhood agreement that he and his friends would each have a spaceship before they turned 40. 


 It may need an earthly vehicle to pull it, but the Reconnator 1 is fitted with all the retro trappings including air-powered rocket turbines, start-up gyros, thruster controls, more switches and buzzers than you can poke a stick at and a logbook claiming it's been piloted by sci-fi luminaries such as Buck Rogers and Captain Kirk. 

 Despite its galactic pedigree, the Reconnator 1 is docked in Mr Wilson's shed and used mainly for children's birthday parties.

He hopes it will be purchased by a school, an entrepreneur or a space-loving organisation to help educate the next generation of space cadets.

While the Reconnator 1 is shackled to the ground by the harsh laws of gravity, Mr Wilson said his next project is set to take to the skies.


Read more here:   http://www.couriermail.com.au

Fly Guinness Class to Dublin - Guinness Ad

Guinness has unveiled plans craft its own jet service, naturally dubbed Guinness Class. The private planes will fly from the UK to Dublin every Friday and Saturday evening.

Moulton Howard Wells ULTRA-PUP BY PRECPTR, N3073X: Accident occurred October 06, 2012 in Lyman, Maine

NTSB Identification: ERA13CA010 
 14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Saturday, October 06, 2012 in Lyman, ME
Probable Cause Approval Date: 03/13/2013
Aircraft: MOULTON HOWARD WELLS ULTRA-PUP, registration: N3073X
Injuries: 2 Minor.

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.

About 20 minutes into the cross-country flight, the pilot of the experimental amateur-built airplane detected a vibration of the airplane’s engine that “didn’t sound good,” and noticed a drop in the rpm of the automotive-conversion engine. He immediately applied carburetor heat, but the engine continued to lose power until the airplane could no longer maintain altitude and began to descend from its cruise altitude of 1,500 feet above ground level. The pilot performed a forced landing into the trees below, substantially damaging the airplane’s fuselage, wings, and empennage. Postaccident examination of the airplane, its engine, and its fuel system revealed no evidence of preimpact malfunctions or anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. Although the fuel system was compromised by impact damage, the fuel that remained in the system was absent of contamination. According to a carburetor icing probability chart published by the Federal Aviation Administration, the temperature and dew point reported at an airport located about 6 nautical miles from the accident site were conducive to “serious icing at cruise power.”

The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident to be:

The accumulation of ice in the automotive engine’s carburetor, which resulted in a loss of engine power.

About 20 minutes into the cross-country flight, the pilot of the experimental amateur-built airplane detected a vibration of the airplane’s engine that “didn’t sound good,” and noticed a drop in the rpm of the automotive-conversion engine. He immediately applied carburetor heat, but the engine continued to lose power until the airplane could no longer maintain altitude and began to descend from its cruise altitude of 1,500 feet agl. The pilot subsequently performed a forced landing to the trees below, resulting in substantial damage to the airplane’s fuselage, wings, and empennage. A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector examined the wreckage at the accident scene, found no anomalies associated with the airplane’s fuel system, and noted that the fuel remaining was absent of any contamination. A subsequent examination of the engine was also unable to note any obvious mechanical deficiencies of the engine. The temperature and dew point reported at an airport located about 6 nautical miles from the accident site were conducive to “serious icing at cruise power,” according to a carburetor icing probability chart published by the FAA. Following the accident, the pilot stated he believed that the airplane’s custom carburetor heat system may not have possessed an adequate heating capacity to recover from an encounter with carburetor icing.


IDENTIFICATION
  Regis#: 3073X        Make/Model: EXP       Description: EXP- ULTRA PUP
  Date: 10/06/2012     Time: 1243

  Event Type: Accident   Highest Injury: Minor     Mid Air: N    Missing: N
  Damage: Substantial

LOCATION
  City: LYMAN   State: ME   Country: US

DESCRIPTION
  AIRCRAFT LOST POWER AND CRASHED INTO TREES.  LYMAN, ME

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

OTHER DATA
  Activity: Unknown      Phase: Unknown      Operation: OTHER

  FAA FSDO: PORTLAND, ME  (EA65)                  Entry date: 10/09/2012
 
http://registry.faa.gov/N3073X




LYMAN, Maine (NEWS CENTER) -- Two people were injured when an ultralight plane crashed in the woods off of Beech Street in Lyman Saturday morning.

The Lyman Fire Department says two people were in the plane when it crashed just before 9 a.m. Saturday.  The pilot and passenger were taken to Southern Maine Medical Center to be treated for minor injuries.  Their identities have not been released.

A Federal Aviation Administration spokesperson says the plane had taken off from Eliot and was headed to Wiscasset.  The plane developed an engine problem and the pilot attempted to divert it to Sanford.

The FAA is continuing to investigate the cause of the crash.  All nearby roads remain open to traffic as the investigation continues. 


http://www.wcsh6.com


LYMAN, Maine (AP) — Two people have suffered minor injuries in a small plane crash in Lyman, Maine. 

 The crash was reported at about 8:45 a.m. Saturday.

Federal Aviation Administration spokesman Jim Peters said the home-built plane had taken off from Eliot in the western part of the state and was headed to Wiscasset, northeast of Portland.

Peters said the plane developed an engine problem and the pilot tried to divert it to Sanford.

The two people on board were taken Southern Maine Medical Center.

http://www.boston.com