Monday, June 09, 2014

Cessna 172S Skyhawk, Phoenix East Aviation, N5524LF Fatal accident occurred June 09, 2014 in Daytona Beach, Florida

NTSB Identification: ERA14FA283
14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Monday, June 09, 2014 in Daytona Beach, FL
Probable Cause Approval Date: 07/12/2016
Aircraft: CESSNA 172S, registration: N5524L
Injuries: 2 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.

The flight instructor and a private pilot receiving instruction were conducting a night proficiency flight and had completed two touch-and-go landings. A witness reported that, during the initial climb after the second touch-and-go landing, the airplane experienced a series of engine "backfires," followed by an audible loss of rpm. The airplane struggled to gain altitude and airspeed as it continued on an easterly heading. He then observed the airplane's right wing dip, followed by a right turn back toward the airport, after which the airplane stalled and then entered a nose-down descent. After the airplane impacted the ground, it was destroyed by a postcrash fire.

Examination of the airframe and engine did not reveal any anomalies that would have precluded normal operation; however, the postaccident condition of the wreckage precluded a functional check of the engine and its accessories. 

There was no evidence that medical issues, medications, or toxic substances impaired the flight instructor or contributed to the accident. Toxicology testing on the pilot receiving instruction detected concentrations of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the active component in marijuana, in cavity blood but not in the brain. In addition, and THC's primary metabolite was detected in cavity blood and urine but not in the brain. Given that no THC was detected in the pilot's brain, it is likely that some of the THC detected in the cavity blood resulted from postmortem redistribution. However, the investigation found no operational evidence of impairment for the pilot. Therefore, although the pilot had used marijuana at some time before the flight, there was no evidence that he was impaired by it at the time of the accident. 

The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident as follows:
A partial loss of engine power during the initial climb after takeoff for reasons that could not be determined due to the postaccident condition of the wreckage. Contributing to the accident was the pilots' decision to turn back to the airport, which led to the airplane exceeding its critical angle-of-attack and experiencing an aerodynamic stall while maneuvering. 

HISTORY OF FLIGHT

On June 9, 2014, about 2158 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 172S, N5524L, experienced a partial loss of engine power and impacted the ground during the initial climb after takeoff from Daytona Beach International Airport, Daytona Beach (DAB), Florida. The flight instructor and the private pilot receiving instruction were fatally injured, and the airplane was destroyed by impact forces and a postcrash fire. The airplane was registered to Bravo Leasing LLC and operated by Phoenix East Aviation, under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91, as an instructional flight. Night, visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight and no flight plan was filed.

The airplane was operated by Phoenix East Aviation flight school and based at DAB. The flight instructor was conducting a night proficiency flight for the private pilot, who was training for his commercial pilot certificate. A review of the pilots training logs revealed that this was the third instructional flight with the flight instructor.

A review of the air traffic control voice transcription revealed that the call sign for the accident airplane was Phoenix 35 (PX35). At 2145, PX35 was cleared for a full stop or touch-and-go landing on runway 7L, at the pilot's discretion. One of the pilots then replied that they would perform a touch-and-go landing. The airplane was subsequently instructed to follow another airplane in the traffic pattern and cleared for a second full stop or touch-and-go landing, about 2153. PX35 acknowledged the air traffic control request and approximately 3 minutes later requested to return to land. This was the last transmission made by PX35.

A DAB airport employee observed the accident from a vehicle on the taxiway. He stated that the airplane performed a touch-and-go landing, and then experienced a series of engine "backfires," followed by an audible loss of rpm during the subsequent initial climb. The airplane struggled to gain altitude and speed as it continued on an easterly heading, and reached a maximum altitude of 250 to 300 feet above the ground. He then observed the airplane's right wing dip, followed by a left turn, and an immediate stall. The airplane entered a nose-down descent and disappeared behind a tree line. He drove in the direction of the airplane and located it off of the airport property engulfed in flames.

Another witness reported that she observed the airplane fly over the tree line. It looked as if the pilot was turning back towards the airport, when the airplane entered an "aerodynamic stall," and then impacted the ground.


PERSONNEL INFORMATION

The certificated flight instructor (CFI), age 22, held a CFI certificate with ratings for airplane single-engine land, multiengine land, and instrument airplane issued on December 10, 2013. She reported that her flight experience included 960 total hours, and 320 hours in last six months, at the time of her most recent Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) first-class medical examination, which was performed on January 28, 2014. Pages of the CFI's logbook were discovered within the cockpit and were destroyed by the postcrash fire. A review of flight school records revealed that the CFI had accumulated about 1,170 total flight hours, of which 101 hours were flown at night.

The pilot receiving instruction, age 22, held a private pilot certificate with a rating for airplane single-engine land. A review of his flight training records revealed that he had 139 total flight hours, 63 hours as pilot-in-command, and 14 hours within the 90 days that preceded the accident. It was also noted that he had logged approximately 12 hours of night flight experience. The pilot receiving instruction held an FAA first-class medical certificate, which was issued on October 11, 2012. His logbook was discovered within the cockpit and was destroyed by the postcrash fire.

AIRCRAFT INFORMATION

The four-seat, high-wing airplane, serial number 172S11378, was manufactured in 2014. It was powered by a Lycoming model IO-360-L2A, 180-horsepower engine equipped with McCauley 1A170E propeller. A review of maintenance logbook records showed a 100-hour inspection was completed on June 4, 2014, about 5 hours prior to the accident. At the time of the inspection, the airplane had been operated for about 100 total hours since new.

Another company flight instructor reported that the airplane experienced a rough running engine and a loss of 400 rpm on climb out while conducting a touch-and-go landing on June 6, 2014. The airplane was taken out of service and inspected. The spark plugs were removed, and no defects were noted. An engine run-up was conducted and a normal rpm drop was noted. A magneto check was conducted and was reported as "good." After the inspection was completed, the airplane was returned to service. It was subsequently flown on an instructional flight during the morning of the accident, without any discrepancies noted.

METEOROLOGICAL INFORMATION

The reported weather at DAB, elevation of 34 feet, included wind from 160 degrees at 3 knots, 10 statute miles visibility, few clouds at 4,500 feet above ground level (agl), temperature 27 degrees Celsius (C); dew point 22 degrees C, and an altimeter setting of 29.97 inches of mercury.

WRECKAGE INFORMATION

The accident site was located about 220 feet south of the runway 7R centerline in an open field. The airplane came to rest in a flat, upright attitude, on a heading of about 060 degrees magnetic. The cockpit, cabin, instrument panel and instruments were consumed by fire.

Examination of the left wing revealed that the outboard section was buckled, and the wing was shifted forward. Examination of the flap revealed that it was in the retracted position. The aileron remained attached at one of the two attachment points and was buckled. Flight control cable continuity was established to the cockpit flight controls. The fuel tank was fire-damaged and the fuel cap was secure.

Examination of the right wing revealed that the outboard section of the wing was buckled and fire-damaged. The flap was in the retracted position and fire-damaged. The aileron remained attached and was fire-damaged. Flight control cable continuity was established to the cockpit flight controls. The fuel tank was fire-damaged and fuel cap was secure.

The empennage aft of the rear window was buckled. The vertical and horizontal stabilizers remained attached to empennage. The right horizontal stabilizer was buckled. The rudder remained attached to the vertical stabilizer and the control cables were traced to the cockpit. The elevators remained attached to the horizontal stabilizers and control cable continuity was confirmed to the cockpit flight controls.

Examination of the engine revealed that it was heavily fire-damaged. The oil sump was breached and fire-damaged. The rear mounted accessories were destroyed by fire. The engine was partially dissembled to facilitate further examination. The connecting rods rotated freely on the crankshaft rod journals. No damage was noted to the camshaft or lifters. The rear main bearing exhibited fire damage, but no rotational scoring or wiping. The cylinders were removed and no damage was noted on the valves or in the valve guides. When the valves were compressed they moved freely in the valve guides. No damage was noted within the cylinders.

Examination of the fuel injector servo revealed that it was impact-separated from the engine and fire-damaged. The servo rubber diaphragms were fire-damaged. No debris was noted within the fuel inlet screen. The flow divider remained attached to the engine. The rubber diaphragm was melted and air passed freely through the fuel injector lines. Examination of the fuel injector nozzles noted that they were unobstructed. No fuel was observed in the engine fuel lines or its components. Examination of the spark plugs revealed that when compared to the Champion Aviation Check-A-Plug chart, they displayed normal signatures. The magnetos and ignition harnesses were destroyed by fire.

The propeller remained attached to the engine crankshaft flange. The crankshaft flange was impact-separated from the crankshaft. The propeller and flange were located in front of the engine, and both blades displayed chordwise scoring.

MEDICAL AND PATHOLOGICAL INFORMATION

An autopsy was performed on the CFI by the Office of the Medical Examiner, Daytona Beach, Florida.

Forensic toxicology was performed on specimens from the CFI, by the FAA Bioaeronautical Sciences Research Laboratory, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. The toxicology report stated that no carbon monoxide was detected in blood (cavity), no ethanol was detected in vitreous, and no drugs were detected in the urine.

An autopsy was performed on the pilot receiving instruction by the Office of the Medical Examiner, Daytona Beach, Florida.

Forensic toxicology was performed on specimens from the pilot receiving instruction, by the FAA Bioaeronautical Sciences Research Laboratory, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. The toxicology report stated that no carbon monoxide was detected in the blood cavity and no ethanol was detected in vitreous.

Tetrahydrocannabinol (marihuana) in concentrations of 0.00136 (ug/ml, ug/g) was detected in the blood cavity. Tetrahydrocannabinol Carboxylic Acid (marihuana) in concentrations of 0.0484 (ug/ml, ug/g) was detected in the urine. Tetrahydrocannabinol Carboxylic Acid (marihuana) in concentrations of 0.0021 (ug/ml, ug/g) was detected in the blood cavity.

http://registry.faa.gov/N5524L

NTSB Identification: ERA14FA283
14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Monday, June 09, 2014 in Daytona Beach, FL
Aircraft: CESSNA 172S, registration: N5524L
Injuries: 2 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 June 9, 2014, about 2158 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 172S, N5524L, impacted terrain when control was lost shortly after takeoff from Daytona International Airport, Daytona Beach, Florida. The flight instructor and private rated student were fatally injured, and the airplane was destroyed by impact forces and a post-crash fire. The airplane was registered to Bravo Leasing LLC and operated by Phoenix East Aviation, under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91, as an instructional flight. Night visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight and no flight plan was filed. The flight was originating at the time of the accident.

According to the flight school, the purpose of the flight was to train the private pilot for his commercial pilot certificate.

Preliminary information obtained from air traffic control personnel indicated that the airplane was on its second touch-and-go landing on runway 7R and was on the initial climb after takeoff.

An airport employee, who was in his vehicle on the taxiway, stated that as the airplane climbed out he heard what sounded like a "backfire" coming from the direction of the airplane. He stopped his truck and turned towards the airplane and stated that the airplane descend below the tree line. They headed in the direction of the airplane and located it off of the airport property. When he arrived the airplane was engulfed in flames.

Another witness reported that the airplane came over the tree line and it looked as if the pilot was turning back towards the airport. They said that the engine was running but it appeared as if the airplane had entered an aerodynamic stall before impacting the ground.

The aircraft wreckage was located in an open field located about 220 feet south of the runway 7R centerline in an open field. The airplane came to rest in a flat attitude, on a course of about 060 degrees magnetic. The cockpit, cabin instrument panel and instruments were totally consumed by post-impact fire. All components of the airplane to include flight control surfaces were accounted for at the crash site.


 Gabriel De Souza Marinho Falcao, Marlene Mork 




 Marlene Mork


Gabriel De Souza Marinho Falcao, Marlene Mork 


 Marlene Mork



DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. —    Investigators believe a single-engine plane that crashed at the Daytona Beach International Airport Monday night might have suffered engine failure.

Flight instructor Marlene Mork, 22, and pilot under instruction Gabriel De Souza Marinho Falcao, 22, were killed in the crash at the airport off Clyde Morris Boulevard about 10 p.m.

"There was a ball of flame upon the impact," said Dave Byron of Daytona Beach International Airport.

Officials with the Federal Aviation Administration and National Transportation Safety Board spent Tuesday at the crash site investigating.

Early indications are the Cessna 172 may have lost power to its engine, which ultimately caused it to crash.

According to the FAA, the student and instructor were practicing taking off and landing in the aircraft. Both were from Phoenix East Aviation School, one of two flight schools based at the airport.

A man who spoke to Channel 9 said he was Mork's roommate.

"She was the nicest person I've ever met. She was amazing. She's just too young," he said.

The man said the instructor had been with the school for at least two years and had a love for flying.

The single-engine aircraft was brand new and only had about 100 hours of flying logged, officials said.


http://www.wftv.com

June 9, 2014 
Gary Davidson
Public Information Officer

FATAL PLANE CRASH UNDER INVESTIGATION

Two people died when a single-engine plane crashed on property just east of Daytona Beach International Airport Monday night and burst into flames. The plane took off from the general aviation runway at the airport just before 10 p.m. Monday night and crashed off airport property shortly after take-off, landing on the west side of South Clyde Morris Boulevard at its intersection with Bellevue Avenue and erupting in flames.

 Units with the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office, the Daytona Beach Police Department, Volusia County Fire Services and the Daytona Beach Fire Department rushed to the scene after the first report of the crash came in at 9:57 p.m. County and city firefighters extinguished the flames. It’s believed that there were two occupants onboard the Cessna 172 that was registered to Phoenix East Aviation. There were no survivors.

The Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board will be investigating the cause of the crash. The Sheriff’s Office’s Major Case Unit also is investigating to confirm the cause of the deaths. The incident didn’t affect operations at the Airport, which remains open for business.

Update: 4:15 p.m.

The victims from last night’s plane crash have been tentatively identified as:

    22-year-old flight instructor Marlene Mork

    22-year-old student Gabriel De Souza Marinho Falcao



http://www.volusiasheriff.org/press/140084.htm












A student pilot and flight instructor died when a Cessna 172S Skyhawk crashed at Daytona Beach International Airport on Monday night. 


DAYTONA BEACH — Two people were killed Monday night when a small, single-engine plane crashed after taking off from Daytona Beach International Airport, officials said.  

The plane, a Cessna from Phoenix East Aviation, crashed and burst into flames about 10 p.m. in a field on airport property near Clyde Morris Boulevard and Bellevue Avenue, Police Chief Mike Chitwood said.

According to a witness at the airport, it sounded like the plane’s engine failed shortly after it took off about 9:55 p.m.

The plane crashed as it turned to make it back to the runway, Chitwood said, relaying the witness account.

The two people killed were the only ones on board, Chitwood said.

Fire crews and emergency medical responders were dispatched to the scene. The Medical Examiner’s Office was called to pick up the bodies.

The National Transportation Safety Board is expected to begin an investigation Tuesday morning.

The crash was the second involving fatalities Monday night in Central Florida.

Brevard County Fire Rescue officials said two people were killed when a small plane crashed near homes on Merritt Island about 8:30 p.m.

Both of the fatalities were persons on the airplane. No one on the ground was injured, officials said.


http://www.news-journalonline.com



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