Sunday, June 14, 2015

Grumman AA-5 Traveler, N6552L: Accident occurred June 14, 2015 at Gillespie County Airport (T82), Fredericksburg, Texas

NTSB Identification: CEN15FA269
14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Sunday, June 14, 2015 in Fredericksburg, TX
Aircraft: GRUMMAN AMERICAN AVN. CORP. AA-5, registration: N6552L
Injuries: 1 Fatal, 1 Serious.

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 14, 2015, about 1119 central daylight time, a Grumman American Aviation Corporation model AA-5 airplane, N6552L, was substantially damaged when it impacted terrain shortly after takeoff from Gillespie County Airport (T82), Fredericksburg, Texas. The private pilot sustained serious injuries and his passenger was fatally injured. The airplane was registered to a private individual and operated by the pilot. Day visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local flight that was originating at the time of the accident.

According to the pilot's spouse, about 1115, the pilot called her and stated that he and the passenger/mechanic had completed an annual inspection of the airplane and were going on a local flight in the airport traffic pattern. There were no witnesses to the accident. The main wreckage was subsequently located by the property owner about 1245.

The wreckage was located in an open pasture with no trees or other obstructions in the general vicinity of the accident site. The wreckage was located along the extended centerline for runway 14, about 1/4 mile from the departure threshold. The aircraft wreckage was orientated on a 350 degree magnetic heading. The airplane had impacted in a nose-down attitude. There was no appreciable wreckage propagation from the point-of-impact. The main wreckage consisted of the entire airframe, including all structural components and flight control surfaces. Flight control continuity was established from the cockpit controls to the rudder and elevator surfaces. Flight control continuity for the right aileron was confirmed; however, there was a torque-tube separation for the left aileron that was consistent with impact damage. The wing flaps appeared to be in the fully retracted position. The fuel system contained tank damage and several line separations that were consistent with impact damage. A first responder reported that the cockpit fuel selector was initially found in the RIGHT position and that, during rescue efforts, he turned the fuel selector to the OFF position. There was fluid present in both supply lines to the fuel selector assembly. The outflow line from the fuel selector was found fragmented. The fluid collected from the right tank supply line was consistent in color and odor to 100 low-lead aviation fuel. There was no water or particulate contamination in the sample collected from the right tank supply line. The fluid collected from the left tank supply line contained a mixture of fuel and water contamination. The electric fuel pump, the lowest point in the fuel system, contained a mixture of fuel and water contamination. The fuel pump filter screen was corroded and was partially obstructed by particulate contaminates.

The engine remained partially attached to the firewall by its mounts and control cables. Mechanical continuity was confirmed from the engine components to their respective cockpit controls. Internal engine and valve train continuity was confirmed as the engine crankshaft was rotated. Compression and suction were noted on all cylinders in conjunction with crankshaft rotation. The spark plugs were removed and exhibited features consistent with normal engine operation. Both magnetos provided spark on all leads when rotated. There were no obstructions between the air filter housing and the carburetor. The carburetor fuel bowl contained trace amounts of a fluid that was brown/tan in color, had an odor consistent with aviation fuel, and tested positive for water contamination. Several water droplets were observed to drain from the number 2 engine cylinder when the lower spark plug was removed. The propeller remained attached to the engine crankshaft flange. The propeller blades exhibited aft bending, chordwise scratches, and polishing. The postaccident engine examination revealed no evidence of a mechanical failure that would have precluded normal operation.

At 1115, the T82 automated surface observing system reported: wind 170 degrees at 7 knots, broken ceilings at 2,100 feet above ground level (agl) and 2,700 feet agl, 10 mile surface visibility; temperature 26 degrees Celsius; dew point 21 degrees Celsius; and an altimeter setting of 29.93 inches of mercury.

A handheld GPS device, recovered from the wreckage, recorded an alert message (an interruption of external power) at 1119:38 (hhmm:ss). The handheld GPS device was not configured to record historical position/track data. A second GPS device was recovered from the wreckage and was retained for additional examination.

THOMAS E. ALEXANDER: http://registry.faa.gov/N6552L





  A mechanical failure has been cited by the Texas Department of Public Safety as the suspected cause of the crash of a small airplane that claimed the life of an Ingram man and left another critically injured. 

According to DPS reports, John Dozier, 57, was piloting a Grumman AA-5 Traveler aircraft.

Dozier was attempting to land the plane at the Gillespie County Airport.

The engine lost power “on approach” and crashed in a field just short of the runway, according to DPS reports.

Dozier died as the scene of the crash.

A passenger, Charles Reed, 51, also of Ingram, received significant injuries and was transported to San Antonio, where he is listed in critical condition.

A DPS spokesperson said troopers secured the scene and gathered information on site.

A formal investigation will be conducted by the Federal Aviation Administration.
=========

One man is dead and another is in critical condition after a plane crashed Sunday afternoon in Fredericksburg.

John Clifton Dozier, 57, died after a small plane crashed just short of the Gillespie County Airport runway, a Texas Department of Public Safety report states.


Emergency crews responded to the accident at about 12:46 p.m.


Dozier was found dead at the scene.


A second man was taken to  University Hospital in critical condition, the report states.


No other details were immediately available. 


Investigators said they didn’t yet know who was piloting the plane.


http://www.mysanantonio.com

FREDERICKSBURG, Texas - One person is dead, another is in the hospital after a small aircraft crashed in Fredericksburg on Sunday. 


Airport officials said that the single engine Grumman plane crashed around 1 p.m. near the Gillespie County Airport


 It is believed that the plane lost power just after take off and crashed into a field about 1,000 feet from the runway. 


 No word on the condition of the other crash victim. 


NTSB is investigating the crash.

EDITORIAL: EPA’s latest regulation hammers airlines, travel and tourism

LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL

President Barack Obama says climate change is a national security threat. As a result, virtually every industry is threatened by his administration’s regulatory wrath.

Under the president’s watch, the Environmental Protection Agency is pushing for increased regulation of wetlands and waterways, tightening fuel efficiency standards for heavy trucks and is getting ready to launch unprecedented greenhouse gas rules for power plants. And just last week, the Obama administration announced it would be taking new steps toward regulating airplanes’ greenhouse gas emissions.

The EPA proposes a declaration stating that carbon emissions from commercial planes contribute to climate change and hurt human health. The EPA is also working with the International Civil Aviation Organization to develop carbon dioxide standards for planes that would impact airlines not only in the United States, but across the globe. According to the EPA, the move “supports the goals of the President’s Climate Action Plan” to cut greenhouse gas emissions in the United States by up to 28 percent over the next decade.

The environmental impact of the EPA’s proposal would be minimal — the airline industry already is moving toward ever-more-efficient aircraft and U.S.-related airplane emissions, and it produces a mere 0.5 percent of the world’s human-caused greenhouse gas emissions — but the economic harm to businesses and travelers would be severe.

Rep. Lamar Smith, R-Texas, was one of many Republicans who denounced the EPA’s announcement and called any new regulations unnecessary.

“The sky is the limit when it comes to how much of the U.S. economy the EPA wants to control,” said Rep. Smith, who also serves as Science, Space and Technology Committee chairman. “Such regulations would increase the price of airfare for Americans and harm our domestic carriers. Over the last 50 years, the fuel efficiency of jetliners has increased by 70 percent. Incentives are already in place to make air travel more energy efficient. This proposal is the next leg of a nonstop journey by the EPA to control how Americans live, work and travel.”

Senate Environment and Public Works Chairman Jim Inhofe, R-Okla., who pointed out that the president’s travels on Air Force One would “conveniently” not be subject to the new rules, said the proposal is “further proof of extreme environmental groups charting this country’s regulatory course.”

Sen. Inhofe is right. Jet-setting liberals are the pushiest parishioners in the Church of Climate Change. They have no problem piling up miles on their private planes to tell everyone else to make enormous sacrifices in their lives. All the radical greens who want current jetliners grounded and air travel restricted should check with their deep-pocketed donors before championing the EPA’s plan.

This is lunacy, plain and simple. The EPA under President Obama is a power-grabbing bunch of authoritarians. As with everything the EPA gets its hands on, strict new airplane standards would raise costs. It would make travel more expensive and hurt airlines, business and tourism —the dominant industry in Nevada.

Nevada’s congressional delegation needs to do everything in its power to block yet more costly EPA regulations — and Americans need to elect a new president who’ll finally put a leash on the EPA.

Source:  http://www.reviewjournal.com/opinion


Sen. James M. Inhofe (R-Okla.) takes a reporter on a flight above Tulsa in his experimental aircraft.  His faith and his conservatism shape his views on climate change, which he says is the work of God, not man.

Weatherly 620-A, N4659N, Devil Dusters Inc: Accident occurred June 14, 2015 in Van Horn, Culberson County, Texas

NTSB Identification: CEN15LA272 
14 CFR Part 137: Agricultural
Accident occurred Sunday, June 14, 2015 in Van Horn, TX
Aircraft: WEATHERLY AVIATION CO INC 620A, registration: N4659N
Injuries: 1 Serious.

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 June 14, 2015, about 1025 central daylight time, a Weatherly 620A airplane, N4659N, lost engine power near Van Horn, Texas. The airline transport rated pilot received serious injuries and the airplane was substantially damaged. The airplane was registered to Devil Dusters, Inc., and operated by Guadalupe Ag Services, Dell City, Texas, under the provisions of the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 137 as an agricultural flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time. The flight was originated from the Culberson County Airport (KVHN), Van Horn, Texas.

The pilot reported to the responding FAA Inspector that he was conducting spray operations on a pecan orchard. According to the pilot, the engine quit and he conducted a forced landing to a field. A post-crash fire consumed much of airframe and cockpit. An initial examination of the airplane revealed the engine had separated from the airframe and substantial damage was sustained to the right wing. 

The airplane was retained for further examination.

DEVIL DUSTERS INC:   http://registry.faa.gov/N4659N


A small airplane crashed Sunday south of Van Horn, injuring one person, according to a Department of Public Safety official.

The plane was identified as a Weatherly 620-A, an agricultural plane. The Weatherly is a single-engine, pilot-only barnstormer, according to several web sites.


A Federal Aviation Administration spokesman, contacted via email, didn't have any information on injuries or who was on board.


The FAA is sending a team to begin an investigation.


Van Horn is about 120 miles southeast of El Paso.  


Piper PA-32-300 Cherokee Six, N2966X, Limb-A-Nator LLC: Fatal accident occurred June 14, 2015 near Cuba Municipal Airport (KUBX), Cuba, Missouri

National Transportation Safety Board - Aviation Accident Final Report: http://app.ntsb.gov/pdf

Docket And Docket Items  -  National Transportation Safety Board:   http://dms.ntsb.gov/pubdms

National Transportation Safety Board  -  Aviation Accident Data Summary:   http://app.ntsb.gov/pdf

LIMB-A-NATOR LLC:   http://registry.faa.gov/N2966X

NTSB Identification: CEN15FA268
14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Sunday, June 14, 2015 in Cuba, MO
Probable Cause Approval Date: 06/09/2016
Aircraft: PIPER PA 32, registration: N2966X
Injuries: 1 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 private pilot was conducting a personal cross-country flight and had filed an instrument flight rules flight plan. The flight was en route to the destination airport, and the pilot was in radar and radio contact with air traffic control (ATC) personnel. While the airplane was in cruise flight at 5,000 ft mean sea level, the pilot checked in with an air traffic controller who alerted the pilot of “moderate to extreme precipitation” 50 miles ahead and about 30 miles in diameter. The pilot acknowledged the information and stated that he would maintain communications with ATC and that he had “a scope onboard.” About 30 minutes later, the pilot reported to the controller that he was in the middle of the precipitation and was not experiencing any bumps. He also stated that his weather scope was showing some returns right of his position. About 1 minute later, radar contact with the airplane was lost, and despite multiple attempts, the controller was unable to make radio contact with the pilot. One witness reported that the airplane emerged from the clouds and that one wing had separated from the airplane before impact. Another witness reported observing the airplane above the tree line with pieces of the airplane falling toward the ground as the airplane spun and descended until impact.

Postaccident examination of the engine and airframe revealed no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. The wreckage distribution and signatures and the witnesses’ reports were consistent with an in-flight breakup. A review of the weather and radar data showed that, during the final moments of the flight, the airplane made a right, descending turn near an area of moderate-to-high thunderstorm activity, which can include extreme updrafts and downdrafts. Although the turn did not occur within a convective storm cell, it occurred in an area that would have been very dynamic and surrounded by hazardous weather conditions. This encounter with thunderstorm activity likely led to the pilot’s loss of airplane control and the exceedance of the airplane's design limits and its subsequent in-flight breakup. Further, based on the pilot’s communication with the air traffic controller, he was attempting to use onboard weather radar to maneuver through an area of storms that he should not have been flying through in the first place.

The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident as follows:
The pilot's continued flight into thunderstorm activity, which resulted in his loss of airplane control, the exceedance of the airplane's design limits, and its subsequent in-flight breakup. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's reliance on onboard weather equipment to navigate through severe weather.

HISTORY OF FLIGHT 

On June 14, 2015 at 0746 central daylight time, a Piper PA32-300 airplane, N2966X, experienced an inflight break up and subsequently collided with trees and terrain near Cuba, Missouri. The private rated pilot and one canine passenger were fatally injured. The airplane was destroyed. The airplane was registered to LIMB-A-NATOR LLC, O'Fallon, Missouri, and operated by a private individual under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident and the flight operated on an instrument flight rules (IFR) flight plan. The flight departed from the Branson West Municipal Airport (FWB), Branson, Missouri, at 0701 and was en route to the Creve Coeur Airport (1H0), St. Louis, Missouri. 

The pilot was in radar and radio contact with the Kansas City Air Route Traffic Control Center (ARTCC). A review of the recording revealed that the accident airplane was in cruise flight at 5,000 ft mean sea level (msl), 163 knots groundspeed, and on a 050 degree heading. At 0716:09 the pilot checked in with the ARTCC controller who stated, "moderate to extreme precipitation from your 10 o'clock to 2 o'clock position beginning in 50 miles, about 30 miles in diameter." The pilot acknowledged the information and stated that he would communicate with ARTCC and that he had "a scope onboard". About 30 minutes later, at 0745:16 the pilot stated to the controller that he was in the middle of the precipitation and was not experiencing any bumps. He also stated that his Stormscope was showing some returns to the right of his position and seeing "a little bit on NEXRAD." At 0746, ARTCC lost radar contact with the airplane and after multiple attempts, was unable to make radio contact with the pilot. ARTCC attempted to relay communication through another airplane in the area; all attempts were unsuccessful. 

A review of the radar data revealed the accident airplane made a right descending turn during the final moments of the flight. 

One witness reported the accident airplane was above the tree line with pieces of the airplane falling toward the ground. The airplane's nose was pointed southeast and the airplane spun as it descended. The airplane continued below the tree line and out of sight, and then a loud crash sound was heard immediately after. 

Another witness heard the airplane above, but couldn't initially make visual contact because of the low clouds. The airplane descended through the clouds and the witness noticed a wing was falling separately along with other parts of the airplane. 

PERSONNEL INFORMATION 

The pilot, age 54, held a private pilot certificate with ratings for single engine airplane and instrument airplane. On September 24, 2014, the pilot was issued a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) third class medical certificate with the limitation that he must have glasses available for near vision. On the application for the medical certificate, the pilot reported his total flight experience included 1,175 hours and 60 hours in the previous six months.

On November 21, 2014, the FAA Aerospace Medical Certification Division issued the pilot a time-limited Special Issuance Certificate which was valid until September 30, 2015; the pilot was treated with continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy for sleep apnea.

A review of the logbook entries revealed that as of May 26, 2015, the pilot had logged 1,203.1 total flight hours, about 1,048 of which were in the accident airplane, and 3.7 hours in the preceding 90 days. 

On March 7, 2014, the pilot satisfactorily completed a biennial flight review (BFR) and an instrument proficiency check (IPC) in the accident airplane. Since the BFR, the pilot logged 11.3 hours in actual IFR conditions and three approaches; two instrument landing system (ILS) and one GPS. 

AIRCRAFT INFORMATION

The six-seat, low wing, fixed tricycle landing gear airplane, was manufactured in 1979. The airplane was powered by a 300-horsepower Lycoming IO-540-K1G5 engine, which drove a three blade, constant speed Hartzell propeller. The airplane was inspected in accordance with a 100-hour / annual inspection and was determined to be in airworthy condition on October 9, 2014, at a tachometer time of 3,956.72 hours. 

Installed on the airplane was a Stormscope WX-10 Weather Mapping System. The system detected electrical discharges and mapped them on the instrument screen. The system updated continuously and automatically. 

The pilot stated to ARTCC that he had Next-Generation Radar (NEXRAD) onboard; however, the investigation was unable to find any evidence of NEXRAD capabilities. 

Pilot Operating Handbook (POH) Excerpts:

Maximum Structural Cruising Speed – No not exceed this speed except in smooth air and then only with caution – 149 knots indicated airspeed (KIAS). 

Design maneuvering speed – Do not make full or abrupt control movements above this speed – 131 KIAS at 3,400 lbs, and 114 KIAS at 2,400 lbs. 

METEOROLOGICAL INFORMATION 

At 0716 a special automated weather observation at the Rolla National Airport (VIH), located 16 miles west of the accident site, reported wind from 200 degrees at 11 knots, 3 miles visibility, light rain, mist, scattered clouds at 900 ft, broken clouds at 2,400 ft, overcast clouds at 4,600 ft, temperature 70° F, dew point 70° F, and altimeter setting 29.97 inches of mercury. 

At 0736 another special weather observation at VIH reported wind from 190 degrees at 8 knots, 10 miles visibility, few clouds at 700 ft, broken clouds at 3,800 ft, overcast cloud base at 4,800 ft, temperature 70° F, dew point 70° F, altimeter setting 29.98; remarks: lightning over 10 miles away to the southeast, rain began at 0657 and ended at 0731, 0.27 inches of precipitation since 0653. 

At 0753 a weather observation at VIH reported wind from 190 degrees at 10 knots, 10 miles visibility, few clouds at 2,300 ft, broken clouds at 4,200 ft, overcast clouds at 5,000 ft, temperature 70° F, dew point 70° F, altimeter setting 29.98, and rain in the area began at 0657 and ended at 0731.

Weather radar imagery from KLSX, St. Louis, Missouri, between 0722 and 0746, depicted moderate to high reflectivity northeast of and directly in the flight path of the accident airplane. The reflectivity features were consistent with convective activity. As the airplane flew past the first area of reflectivity (between 0742 and 0745), it made a right turn in front of an area categorized by moderate-high reflectivity that had been moving southeast into the flight path of the accident airplane. At the accident airplane's final recorded position, the airplane was in a small area void of reflectivity.

There were no convective or non-convective Significant Meteorological Information (SIGMET) advisories active for the accident location at the accident time.

Two Airmen Meteorological Information (AIRMET) advisories were active for the state of Missouri for altitudes below 10,000 ft for the accident time. 

Total lightning data from the Earth Networks Total Lightning Network and Vaisala's National Lightning Detection Network did not identify the presence of any lightning in the accident area from 0730 to 0746. 

At 0456, the pilot requested and received an FAA Direct User Access Terminal Service (DUATS) 'Low Altitude Weather Brief' for the accident flight which contained the above weather information. 

WRECKAGE AND IMPACT INFORMATION

The accident site was located at latitude 38° 4.706' N, longitude 91° 26.213' W, at an elevation of 995 ft msl, and 0.5 miles northwest of the Cuba Municipal Airport (UBX), Cuba, Missouri. Airplane debris was found 0.65 miles northwest of the accident site; the entire debris path extended on a 120° magnetic heading toward the main wreckage. The beginning of the debris path was identified by pieces of broken windscreen and other small airplane debris. The main wreckage, which included the fuselage, portions of the empennage, nose landing gear, right wing, and engine, came to rest in a heavily wooded area immediately adjacent to an east-west fence line. There was evidence of several damaged trees in the debris path leading to the main wreckage. 

The fuselage from the engine firewall aft to the tail cone exhibited impact damage and was breached and twisted. The main carry through spar on the left side exhibited upward bending signatures. All seats and associated restraints were noted and the pilot's seat was removed by first responders. All cabin and cargo doors were separated from the fuselage. All window enclosures and windscreens were missing and the remnants were found in the wreckage debris path. 

The instrument panel was compressed aft. The engine ignition switch position was not confirmed due to impact damage. The flight instruments were impact damaged and revealed no useful information. All switches and circuit breakers were impact damaged and their positions prior to impact could not be confirmed. The throttle quadrant levers were near the full forward position. The fuel selector valve was noted between the LEFT and OFF position. The stabilator trim wheel position could not be confirmed. The rudder trim indicator was not observed. The alternate air lever position was not determined. The two control yokes were impact damaged and the rudder pedal control bar was separated at its mounting points.

The engine was located in front of the fuselage and partially covered in mud. The propeller remained attached to the crank shaft and the nose landing gear was located under the engine. One propeller blade was fractured near the propeller hub and was found near the engine. 

The empennage from the aft bulkhead was breached and twisted with impact damage. The vertical stabilizer was separated from the empennage, exhibited impact damaged, and breached near the center. The attachment points exhibited shear lips consistent with overstress failure. The rudder and its integral balance weight were not located. 

The stabilator was located in the debris path 0.27 miles from the main wreckage and separated into three sections. The right section exhibited aft and downward twisting signatures and blue paint transfer marks. The left two sections also exhibited multiple blue paint transfer marks; the inboard section was twisted and exhibited upward and downward bending signatures, the outboard section exhibited some minimal twisting. The stabilator balance weight was attached to the aft bulkhead at its mounting blocks. 

The left wing had separated from the airframe at the wing root and found in a densely wooded area 0.18 miles from the main wreckage. The main spar stub and the forward and aft attach fitting were sheared and bending was noted. The wing skin exhibited tree and ground impact damage. The flap was separated and found about 60 ft to the west. The aileron was attached but exhibited downward crushing at the tip. The aileron bell crank was pulled from its mount in the wing. The main landing gear assembly was intact and remained attached to the wing. The pitot tube was intact and free of obstructions. The fuel tank vent was open. The fuel cap was in place and secure. The stall warning vane moved freely. 

The right wing remained attached to the fuselage; the wing was twisted and the leading edge was crushed aft. The flap and aileron remained attached to their respective hinges and exhibited impact damage. The bottom of the wing was crushed up and aft. The main landing gear was in an intermediate positon and faced inboard about 45 degrees. The fuel tanks were breached and the fuel vent was completely obstructed by dirt. The fuel cap was in place and secure.

The smell of aviation fuel was present at the accident site, although the exact amount could not be determined because the fuel tanks were breached. 

The wreckage was taken to a secure facility in Wright City, Missouri, for a postaccident examination. 

The engine exhibited impact damage and remained attached to the engine mounts. The crankcase near the propeller hub was fractured, which precluded the propeller from being manually rotated. The spark plugs were removed and exhibited signs of normal wear when compared to a Champion Check-A-Plug comparison card. 

The propeller blades were labeled A, B, and C for identification purposes in this report only. Blades A and B remained attached to the propeller hub. Blade A exhibited leading edge scoring, chord wise scratches and forward bending. Blade B exhibited a small amount of leading edge damage and forward bending. Blade C was separated about 3 inches from the propeller hub; the blade was twisted, the tip curled aft, and exhibited substantial leading edge damage and chordwise scratches.

The flight control cables were observed and all were either cut during the recovery process or exhibited tension overload separations. 

The postaccident examination of the engine and airframe revealed no pre-impact mechanical malfunctions or anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. 

MEDICAL AND PATHOLOGICAL INFORMATION 

An autopsy was performed on the pilot by the Boone/Callaway County Medical Examiner's Office, Columbia, Missouri, on June 15, 2015. The cause of death was blunt trauma of the body secondary to an airplane crash. A full autopsy was not possible given the condition of the body; therefore, no comments can be made on factors that could have posed a hazard to flight safety. 

The FAA Civil Aerospace Medical Institute completed a Final Forensic Toxicology Fatal Accident Report which detected no medications, illicit drugs or alcohol that could pose hazards to flight safety.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

FAA Pilot Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge - Chapter 11, "Weather Theory" 

"…if an aircraft enters a thunderstorm, the aircraft could experience updraft and downdraft that exceed 3,000 ft per minute…a good rule of thumb is to circumnavigate thunderstorms by at least 5 nautical miles…if flying around a thunderstorm is not an option, stay on the ground until it passes."

FAA FAASTeam "Thunderstorms – Don't Flirt…Skirt 'Em"

Pilots should observe the following rules for any flight routed even potentially near actual or possible thunder­storm activity:

• Avoid all thunderstorms.

• Never get closer than 5 miles to any visible storm cloud with overhanging areas, and strongly consider increas­ing that distance to 20 miles or more. You can encounter hail and violent turbulence anywhere within 20 miles of very strong thunderstorms.

• Do not attempt flight beneath thunderstorms, even when visibility is good, because of the destructive potential of shear turbulence in these areas.

• At the first sign of turbulence, reduce airspeed immediately to the manufacturer's recommended airspeed for turbulent air penetration for a specific gross weight (design maneuvering speed).

• If the aircraft inadvertently penetrates the thunderstorm, maintain a straight and level altitude on a heading that will take you through the storm area in the minimum time.

NTSB Identification: CEN15FA268
14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Sunday, June 14, 2015 in Cuba, MO
Aircraft: PIPER PA 32, registration: N2966X
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 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 14, 2015 at 0746 central daylight time, a Piper PA32-300 airplane, N2966X, impacted terrain near Cuba, Missouri. The pilot and one dog were fatally injured. The airplane was destroyed upon ground impact. The airplane was registered to and operated by LIMB-A-NATOR LLC, O'Fallon, Missouri, under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident and the flight operated on an instrument flight rules flight plan. The flight departed from the Branson West Municipal Airport (FWB), Branson, Missouri, at 0701 and was en route to the Creve Coeur Airport (1H0), St. Louis, Missouri. 

The pilot was in radar and radio contact with the Kansas City Air Route Traffic Control Center (ARTCC). A preliminary review of the recording revealed that the accident pilot was in cruise flight at 5,000 feet mean sea level (msl) and acknowledged the weather in the area. At 0745 he stated that he observed the weather on his Stormscope equipment and added that he was "getting no bumps, just [precipitation]." At 0746 the ARTCC lost radar contact with the airplane and after multiple attempts was unable to make radio contact with the pilot. 

Another flight was in the accident area on a similar heading at 7,000 feet msl. At 0749 the pilot made several unsuccessful attempts to contact the accident pilot on the radio. 

One witness reported observing the accident airplane above the tree line with pieces of the airplane falling toward the ground. The nose was pointing toward the southeast and the airplane spun as is descended. The airplane went below the tree line and out of sight. A loud crash sound was heard immediately after. 

Another witness heard the airplane above but couldn't see it because of the low clouds. The airplane descended through the clouds and the witnesses noticed one wing was falling down along with other parts of the airplane. 

At 0716 a special automated weather observation at the Rolla National Airport (VIH), located 16 miles west of the accident site, reported wind from 200 degrees at 11 knots, 3 miles visibility, light rain, mist, scattered clouds at 900 feet, broken clouds at 2,400 feet, overcast clouds at 4,600 feet, temperature 70° F, dew point 70° F, and altimeter setting 29.97 inches of mercury. 

At 0736 another special weather observation at VIH reported wind from 190 degrees at 8 knots, 10 miles visibility, few clouds at 700 feet, broken clouds at 3,800 feet, overcast clouds at 4,800 feet, temperature 70° F, dew point 70° F, altimeter setting 29.98, and distant lightning to the southeast.

At 0753 a regular weather observation at VIH reported wind from 190 degrees at 10 knots, 10 miles visibility, few clouds at 2,300 feet, broken clouds at 4,200 feet, overcast clouds at 5,000 feet, temperature 70° F, dew point 70° F, altimeter setting 29.98, and rain in the area began at 0657 and ended at 0731.

The airplane has been retained for further examination. 


Jeffery Hansen, 54, and his dog were killed during a plane crash Sunday morning.



Jeff Hansen of Hansen's Tree Service at an event at Family Arena in St. Charles on Oct. 7, 2011.



A St. Charles man and the family dog perished Sunday morning when a small, single-engine plane crashed in a wooded area near the Cuba, Mo. airport during a severe storm.

He is Jeffrey B. Hansen, 54, who was the only person on board.  Hansen owns a well-known O'Fallon, Mo.-based tree service company that also has a location in Branson.

The plane, a Piper PA-32, went down about 7:45 a.m. in Crawford County, about three-quarters of a mile north of the airport, said Sgt. Cody Fulkerson, a public information officer with the Missouri Highway Patrol.

Fulkerson said two witnesses had independently contacted him and said they saw the plane splitting up in the air.

"There were severe storms in the Rolla area at the time the plane went down, and the storms definitely have the capability of tearing up a plane,"  he said. "Both said that it sounded like the engine was in distress. When they looked up it came out the clouds and was breaking up."

Hansen's son and some family friends traveled to the crash site Sunday immediately after hearing the news. 

Fulkerson said that according to Hansen's son, Hansen had texted his wife, "saying that he was in very bad weather and that there was lots of turbulence."

Flight records show that Hansen took the plane from Creve Coeur Airport to Branson West Municipal on June 3. Fulkerson said Hansen was flying Sunday from Branson to Creve Coeur.  Records show that he took off at 7:01 a.m.

The Federal Aviation Administration was on the scene investigating and representatives from the National Transportation Safety Board were expected to arrive from Dallas Sunday afternoon, Fulkerson said.

"These things are always tragic," he said. "The hardest thing a trooper has to do is give a death notification."

Fulkerson said that the family did not want to talk at this time. He had no further information about the family dog.

Hansen, founder and president of Hansen Tree Service and Environmental Wood Resources Inc., started his tree service company in 1988, according to the company's website.   In 2005, the company became the first in Missouri to be certified by the Tree Care Industry Association. It now employs about 90 people including 10 International Society of Arboriculture-certified arborists. The tree service operates a fleet of 75 trucks and has diversified into numerous related services.

This was the second fatal plane crash in the area around Rolla in three days.

On Friday morning, four members of a Utah family who were visiting relatives near Success, Mo., were killed when their plane crashed on take-off from a private grass airstrip. The Beechcraft A-36 got about 100 feet off the ground before stalling.

C. Mark Openshaw, 43, a member of the Utah education board since 2008, and his family were returning to their Provo, Utah. Other victims were Openshaw's wife, Amy, 43; their 15-year-old son, Tanner; and 12-year-old daughter, Ellie.

The lone survivor is a 5-year-old child who is recovering in a hospital in Springfield, Fulkerson said. The father was a well-known educator in Provo.

"That happened on the private property of the grandfather, and he saw it happen," Fulkerson said. 

"These are always hard."

Stinson 108 Voyager, N97505: Accident occurred June 14, 2015 near Dwight's Delight Airport (PA71), Dushore, Pennsylvania

Date:     14-JUN-15
Time:     16:13:00Z
Regis#:     N97505
Aircraft Make:     STINSON
Aircraft Model:     108
Event Type:     Accident
Highest Injury:     Minor
Damage:     Substantial
Flight Phase:     LANDING (LDG)
FAA FSDO:     FAA Harrisburg FSDO-13
City:     DUSHORE
State:     Pennsylvania

AIRCRAFT FORCE LANDED IN A WOODED AREA, NEAR DWIGHTS DELIGHT AIRSTRIP, DUSHORE, PA

RICHARD J.   REXER:  http://registry.faa.gov/N97505


CHERRY TWP. — A pilot and passenger were injured Sunday when their plane crashed shortly after takeoff in Sullivan County, state police at Laporte said.

Pilot Richard Rexer, 55 and passenger John Smithkors, 58, both of Dushore were taken to area hospitals for possible back and neck injuries, state police said.

The Stinson 108 Voyager airplane crashed into a wooded area at 8:10 a.m. approximately 140 feet north of Airport Road and approximately two-tenths of a mile from Gainer Hill Road, state police said. 

Emergency response personnel from Mildred and Dushore located the crash victims, treated them at the scene and transported them to the hospitals, state police said.

The Federal Aviation Administration is investigating.


Airbus, Boeing Supplier Urges Caution on Boosting Single-Aisle Jet Production: CFM executive vice president says engine maker is bound by production limitations

The Wall Street Journal
By Robert Wall and Jon Ostrower


LE BOURGET, France—A key engine supplier to Airbus Group SE and Boeing Co. is urging the two plane makers to move cautiously in boosting output of their most popular single-aisle jetliners, with demand already stretching production capacity.

“There are restrictions to how fast we can ramp up,” said François Bastin, executive vice president at CFM International, a joint venture of General Electric Co. and Safran SA, ahead of the coming week’s Paris International Air Show.

Airbus and Boeing have seen huge demand for their newest single-aisle planes, which form the backbone of global airline operations. Airbus will this year introduce the A320neo, an updated model of its popular jetliner with engines produced by United Technologies Corp. ’s Pratt & Whitney unit. Next year, it will deliver a version of the plane equipped with CFM engines. Boeing’s 737 Max jetliner is due to enter service powered entirely by the Franco-American joint venture’s engines in 2017.

Both aircraft manufacturers plan to boost single-aisle output further. Boeing is increasing to 47 planes a month in 2017 from 42 currently and Airbus is advancing to 50. Boeing will boost again to 52 in 2018 and both have indicated output may rise again by the end of the decade. Airbus said it may decide this year to lift production.

CFM, which delivered its first Leap-1A engines to Airbus this year, plans to boost output to more than 1,800 engines around 2020. But ramping up production even more aggressively would be a challenge, Mr. Bastin said. “We have stretched ourselves as fast as we can go,” he said.

CFM has amassed orders for more than 8,900 engines across the Airbus and Boeing models, as well as China’s Comac C919. When it hits its planned manufacturing tempo, the joint venture aims to build a new Leap engine at a rate of one every five hours, according to the company’s global manufacturing plan.

Allen Paxson, another executive vice president at CFM, said the company could support higher single-aisle plane output in the near term if that included current versions of the Airbus A320 and Boeing 737 powered by engines that have been in production for decades.

To keep pace with its plane-maker customers, the company is modernizing its manufacturing processes at assembly lines in France and the U.S., including the introduction of a so-called pulsed line, on which engines move during the build process at specific time intervals. The joint venture is focusing intently on ensuring that each one of the more than 4,000 unique parts inside each engine comes together smoothly.

Mr. Bastin said the new engine would deliver the fuel-burn performance and other features promised to customers. “It is right on target and it will be right at the performance at entry into service,” he said. The Leap-1A-powered A320neo test plane is now flying as often as twice a day.

Source: http://www.wsj.com


Boeing looking closely at an all-new jet for 2025

Boeing is moving forward with a study of an all-new commercial jet that would enter service in the middle of the next decade, sales chief John Wojick said in an interview ahead of the Paris Air Show.

In the past year, Wojick’s sales team has had detailed discussions with airline customers and has determined that the market is big enough to potentially go forward with a multibillion-dollar investment to build the first all-new jet since the 787 Dreamliner, launched in 2003.


A final decision on launching such a jet remains far off, likely not before 2019. But Boeing’s determination that there is a market worth chasing is a necessary early step that triggers further detailed study of the business case for going ahead.


“A year ago, we weren’t convinced the market was large enough to be of that much interest,” Wojick said. “What we’ve determined over the past year is that it’s larger than we thought.”


Boeing internally refers to the proposed jet as a “Middle of the Market” airplane, because it’s intermediate in size between the 737 single-aisle family and the 787, which is Boeing’s smallest widebody.


Originally a plane that size was discussed as a replacement for the single-aisle 757, which Boeing stopped building in 2005. However, the proposal that emerged from Boeing’s market research goes well beyond that.


Wojick said Boeing is looking at a plane seating 220 to 280 passengers with a range of 4,500 to 5,000 miles.

“That’s larger than a 757 and flies farther than a 757,” Wojick said. “It’s a domestic and a regional airplane. It would be very efficient operating domestically in the U.S. or China, and regionally as well in Southeast Asia and Europe. It could fly from the East Coast of the U.S. to many destinations in Europe.”

Wojcik said the jet probably couldn’t enter service before the middle of the next decade because the configuration outlined demands a higher-thrust engine than those powering today’s single-aisle jets. In addition, Boeing’s engineering and financial resources will be tied up with the 737 MAX and the 777X derivative airplanes through at least 2020.

Wojick said Mike Sinnett, vice president of product development, is leading the study of the proposed jet, along with Scott Fancher, vice president of airplane development who now leads the 777X program.


What’s ahead for them, Wojick said, is to determine the detailed configuration of an airplane that fits the identified market and also “what type of production system and materials need to be used.”

Basic questions such as whether the proposed jet should be a single-aisle or a twin-aisle, and whether it will be made largely from metal or from composite plastic are still unanswered, he said.

If Boeing finally decides to launch the airplane, the decision on the production system will of course also raise the key question of where the plane will be built.

Everett and North Charleston, S.C., are the most likely candidates for final assembly. However, Wojick said that decision is “way down the pike.”

In the meantime, Boeing is digesting the input from the airlines. Wojick said there is interest from a diverse customer base, including carriers that today fly the 757 across the Atlantic — American, Delta, United and Icelandair — as well as low-cost carriers.

He said Southwest Airlines is potentially interested. And so is Alaska Air, which today flies Boeing’s largest 737 on long-distance routes to the East Coast and Mexico.

“Anchorage and Seattle are a long way from large population bases,” Wojick said. “We’ll see how far they want to go.”

Source:  http://www.seattletimes.com

Piper PA-28-140, N43078: Accident occurred June 14, 2015 near Near Hampton Airfield (7B3), Hampton, New Hampshire

Please note: This courtesy photograph was taken about 4 decades ago.
~



The National Transportation Safety Board did not travel to the scene of this accident.


Additional Participating Entities:
Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Portland, Maine
Lycoming Engines; Williamsport, Pennsylvania

Location: Hampton, NH
Accident Number: ERA15LA237
Date & Time: 06/14/2015, 0930 EDT
Registration: N43078
Aircraft: PIPER PA28
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Defining Event: Aerodynamic stall/spin
Injuries: 2 Serious
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General Aviation - Personal 

On June 14, 2015, about 0930 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-28-140, N43078, impacted trees and terrain shortly after takeoff from Hampton Airfield (7B3), Hampton, New Hampshire. The private pilot and one passenger received serious injuries. The airplane was substantially damaged by impact forces and a postcrash fire. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the planned flight to Biddeford Airport (B19), Biddeford, Maine. The airplane was owned and operated by the private pilot under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight.

According to the pilot, on the morning of the accident he had fueled the airplane at B19, and performed a "full run-up and normal takeoff" for the flight to 7B3. The takeoff, all systems, and flight characteristics appeared normal. After landing at 7B3, he taxied to the ramp and shut the airplane down. He did not refuel at 7B3, and a short time later he and his passenger embarked and taxied to runway 02, where he performed another engine run-up, with no anomalies noted. He indicated that the takeoff, and all systems including the airspeed, appeared normal. He said that the airplane lifted off at 65 knots, but it would not climb. He asked the passenger to read the emergency checklist, and verified that the mixture was rich, the throttle was full, the fuel selector was on the fullest tank, the fuel pump was on, and the carburetor heat was off. He attempted to keep the airplane level; however, he raised the nose at the last minute as they approached a tree line. The airplane cleared the initial tree line; however, subsequently descended into the wooded area.

According to a witness, as the airplane lifted off from the runway, it appeared to have a "high angle of attack," and it looked as though it was "mushing through the air" after takeoff. During the initial climb the pitch attitude decreased briefly, and then increased before the airplane reached a tree line. After clearing the trees, the nose lowered and the airplane disappeared out of sight. The witness further stated that he did not hear a loss of engine power at any time. Another witness stated that when the airplane lifted off the ground, its "nose was too vertical." The witness thought the airplane would not climb above the trees in the nose-up position; however, it cleared the tree tops and was "nearly vertical" when it began to lose altitude.

Review of airport surveillance video also revealed that the airplane lifted off and remained in a nose-up attitude.

Examination of the wreckage, at the scene, by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector revealed that the airplane impacted a wooded area about 2,000 feet from the departure end of the runway and slightly right of the extended runway centerline. The fuselage came to rest upright in a nose down attitude with the engine and nose section embedded in soil. Both wings were separated from the fuselage.

A postaccident examination of the airplane and engine was conducted by an FAA inspector and representative from the engine manufacturer. One propeller blade exhibited chordwise scratching and leading-edge gouging. When the engine crankshaft was rotated by hand, continuity was confirmed on all cylinders, valves, and accessory gears. Thumb compression and suction was verified on each cylinder. The spark plugs were removed and examined; each displayed little or no wear and were light gray/black/oily in color. The carburetor bowl was removed and was found to be free of debris.

Control cable continuity was established from each aileron though fractures, consistent with tensile overload, to the cockpit area. The stabilator and rudder were removed during salvage recovery efforts, and the flight control cables were cut by recovery personnel. However, cable continuity was confirmed from the cockpit area to the rudder and stabilator.

Examination of the stabilator trim indicator in the cockpit revealed that the trim was in the full nose up position. Examination of the stabilator trim jackscrew revealed 16 exposed threads, which equated to a full nose-up position. Review of a takeoff checklist from a make and model pilot operating manual revealed "Trim tab – set."

Pilot Information

Certificate: Private
Age: 56, Male
Airplane Rating(s): Single-engine Land
Seat Occupied: Left
Other Aircraft Rating(s): None
Restraint Used: 3-point
Instrument Rating(s): None
Second Pilot Present: No
Instructor Rating(s): None
Toxicology Performed: No
Medical Certification: Class 3 With Waivers/Limitations
Last FAA Medical Exam: 05/03/2013
Occupational Pilot: No
Last Flight Review or Equivalent: 05/24/2014
Flight Time:  182 hours (Total, all aircraft), 182 hours (Total, this make and model), 129 hours (Pilot In Command, all aircraft), 3 hours (Last 90 days, all aircraft), 2 hours (Last 30 days, all aircraft), 1 hours (Last 24 hours, all aircraft) 

Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information

Aircraft Manufacturer: PIPER
Registration: N43078
Model/Series: PA28 140
Aircraft Category: Airplane
Year of Manufacture: 1974
Amateur Built: No
Airworthiness Certificate: Normal
Serial Number: 28-7425332
Landing Gear Type: Tricycle
Seats: 4
Date/Type of Last Inspection: 04/01/2015, Annual
Certified Max Gross Wt.: 2150 lbs
Time Since Last Inspection: 2 Hours
Engines: 1 Reciprocating
Airframe Total Time: 4520 Hours at time of accident
Engine Manufacturer: LYCOMING
ELT: C91A installed, not activated
Engine Model/Series: O-320-D3G
Registered Owner: On file
Rated Power: 160 hp
Operator: On file
Operating Certificate(s) Held: None

Meteorological Information and Flight Plan

Conditions at Accident Site: Visual Conditions
Condition of Light: Day
Observation Facility, Elevation: KPSM, 100 ft msl
Observation Time: 0958 EDT
Distance from Accident Site: 7 Nautical Miles
Direction from Accident Site: 4°
Lowest Cloud Condition: Few / 14000 ft agl
Temperature/Dew Point: 23°C / 9°C
Lowest Ceiling: Broken / 25000 ft agl
Visibility: 10 Miles
Wind Speed/Gusts, Direction: 8 knots, 60°
Visibility (RVR):
Altimeter Setting: 30.06 inches Hg
Visibility (RVV):
Precipitation and Obscuration: No Obscuration; No Precipitation
Departure Point: Hampton, NH (7B3)
Type of Flight Plan Filed: None
Destination: Biddeford, ME (B19)
Type of Clearance: None
Departure Time: 0930 EDT
Type of Airspace: 

Airport Information

Airport: HAMPTON AIRFIELD (7B3)
Runway Surface Type: Grass/turf
Airport Elevation: 93 ft
Runway Surface Condition: Dry
Runway Used: 02
IFR Approach: None
Runway Length/Width: 2100 ft / 170 ft
VFR Approach/Landing: None

Wreckage and Impact Information

Crew Injuries: 2 Serious
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Passenger Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Fire: On-Ground
Ground Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 2 Serious
Latitude, Longitude: 42.968333, -70.828333 (est)

The Biddeford man who was flying the plane that crashed in the woods near a New Hampshire airport on Sunday was listed in fair condition Monday at a Portsmouth hospital.

Ronald Gagnon was at the controls of a Piper Cherokee at 9:19 a.m. Sunday when the small plane crashed about 2,000 feet from where it took off from Hampton Airfield in North Hampton, New Hampshire, after touching down briefly.

Both Gagnon and his passenger, whom police have not identified, were able to get out of the plane’s cockpit. The passenger suffered burns over 10 percent of his upper body, according to fire officials, and after being taken to Portsmouth Regional Hospital, he was flown by medical helicopter to Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston. The passenger’s condition isn’t known.

The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the crash to determine whether it was the result of a mechanical malfunction or human error. However, the agency did not send an investigator to the scene and is relying on the Federal Aviation Administration to gather information about the crash, said NTSB spokesman Terry Williams.

Gagnon and his wife, Doris Gagnon, who is listed as a co-owner of the plane, declined interviews Monday, according to Portsmouth Regional Hospital spokeswoman Nancy Notis, but the couple thanked well-wishers for their support.

According to his Facebook page, Gagnon is director of supply chain purchasing and material planning at High Liner Foods Inc. in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. He flies out of the Biddeford Municipal Airport and is a member of Friends of Biddeford Airport, according to members of the organization.

The plane crashed about 150 yards from a house in the woods off Cedar Road. It took the first fire crews about six minutes to get there after the initial report came in.

“I was anticipating both would be trapped,” North Hampton Fire Department Lt. Jason Lajoie said during a news conference Sunday. “I was very surprised they were able to exit the aircraft on their own, and that saved on the number of injuries they had.”

Lajoie added that although the plane crashed, it appears the trees slowed its descent, softening its impact on the ground. One of the plane’s wings was still suspended in the trees Sunday afternoon, he said.

The cockpit remained largely intact with the only damage being to its nose, he said. The plane was on fire when firefighters arrived, but Lajoie described it as a small fire that crews were able to put out quickly.

Gagnon and his passenger were about 30 feet away from the wreckage when firefighters arrived, Lajoie said. Gagnon was able to walk away but his passenger had to be carried to a waiting ambulance.

The plane had arrived at the airfield from elsewhere, touched down at the airfield and taxied, but did not stop, and quickly took off again, officials said. The plane crashed shortly thereafter, about 2,000 feet from the end of the runway.

Source:  http://www.pressherald.com



NORTH HAMPTON, N.H. — Two people were seriously injured when their small plane – which is registered to a man from Biddeford, Maine – crashed Sunday morning in North Hampton, New Hampshire, after taking off from Hampton Airfield, authorities said.

The Piper Cherokee crashed in a wooded area around 9:19 a.m. on private property off Cedar Road, said a news release issued by the North Hampton police and fire department chiefs. The plane came to rest in a wetlands area.

Both occupants, who have not been identified, suffered serious but non-life threatening injuries, according to the news release. One wing was ripped off, but police and fire officials said the plane was otherwise intact.

According to the Federal Aviation Administration, the plane is registered to Ronald Gagnon of Biddeford, Maine. The agency has not said whether Gagnon was one of the people on board.

Police Chief Michael E. Maddocks and Fire Chief Michael J. Tully said first responders had to walk down a long driveway and 150 yards through a wooded area to reach the plane. Rescue personnel found both occupants, who were outside the wreckage, waiting for help to arrive. The crash started several small fires on the land that were quickly extinguished.

The pilot was able to walk out of the crash site with emergency personnel while the passenger – identified only as a male – suffered burns and had to be carried out.

Both were taken to Portsmouth Regional Hospital in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. The passenger was later transferred to Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston by helicopter.

Maddocks and Tully said the Piper Cherokee was not based out of the Hampton Airfield. They said the plane landed at the airfield and taxied before taking off. The crash happened shortly after takeoff. They said trees may have lessened the plane’s impact upon hitting the ground.

Authorities said the Piper PA-28 plane crashed about 2,000 feet from the end of the runway and approximately 150 yards from a home.

The Piper PA-28 Cherokee is a family of light aircraft designed for flight training, air taxi and personal use. The single-engine planes are built to hold two or four passengers.

The FAA is investigating the cause of the crash.


North Hampton Police Chief Michael Maddocks speaks to reporters about Sunday's plane crash off Cedar Road.




NORTH HAMPTON - A pilot and his passenger were injured Sunday morning when the small plane they were flying crashed into trees and caught fire behind homes on Cedar Road.

Police Chief Michael Maddocks said the crash was reported at about 9:19 a.m. and involved a Piper Cherokee that had just taken off from the Hampton Airfield.

The pilot and passenger, both men whose names were not immediately released, were outside the plane when firefighters arrived and found them in the woods about 150 yards in the area of a home at 27 Cedar Road.

The pilot was able to climb out on his own while the passenger needed help, Maddocks said.

Both were transported to Portsmouth Regional Hospital, but the passenger was later flown to a Boston hospital because he was more seriously injured, according to officials.

Shortly before the crash, Maddocks said the plane landed at the Hampton Airfield, taxied around, and then took off again. He said the plane didn't spend any time at the airfield. He said the plane isn't based at the airfield.

The cause of the accident remains under investigation.  Police secured the scene while awaiting the arrival of investigators from the Federal Aviation Administration and New Hampshire Bureau of Aeronautics.

North Hampton Fire Lt. Jason Lajoie said the department's ambulance was the first to arrive.

“They found the victims both located outside the aircraft about 30 feet from the aircraft. One of them was laying down injured the other one was standing so they did manage to get out of the aircraft on their own,” Lajoie said.

Lajoie said the pilot suffered facial injuries. The passenger suffered unknown injuries in addition to burns over approximately 10 percent of his body.

Lajoie said he was surprised to find the men outside the plane when the first rescue crews arrived.

"From past experience and given the severity of the crash and the number of phone calls that were coming in I was anticipating that they were both going to be trapped. However, when we got there I was very surprised that they were both able to exit the aircraft on their own. It made our job easier and it probably saved on the number of injuries to them as well," he said.

Lajoie said the fuselage remained intact with the only damage at the plane's nose. The cockpit  "held together very nicely." One of the wings was ripped off and remained in the trees, he said.

Lajoie said the fire damage wasn't extensive.

Cedar Road resident Nancy Warf was in her backyard with her 3-year-old grandson when she heard the plane crash and quickly called 911.

"I heard it hit the trees and then heard it hit the ground and I saw the fire," she said.

Warf said she heard a "sputtering" noise before the plane came down and she began hearing the trees cracking.

Firefighters from North Hampton and Hampton responded to the scene along with police from North Hampton, Greenland, Hampton, Rye, State Police and officers from New Hampshire Fire and Game. 

- See more at: http://www.unionleader.com












Michael Maddocks, of the North Hampton Police Department, briefs reporters about the crash of a small plane Sunday morning.