Sunday, September 20, 2015

Aerobatics contest takes off at North Texas Regional Airport/Perrin Field (KGYI)

Marty Flournoy explains the amount of power the propeller generates for his Extra 300, a two-seat aerobatic monoplane. Flournoy is competing in the U.S. Aerobatic Championships at North Texas Regional Airport — Perrin Field this week. 



An airplane spinning and rolling in the sky may seem effortless to spectators, but each flight is a physical and mental challenge that aerobatic pilots willingly accept. The idea of delivering a precise performance is what keeps pilots coming back for more.

“I flew competition myself for over 20 years and you never quite have the perfect flight,” International Aerobatics Club President Mike Heuer said. “What we often say is when we’re flying nobody beats you, you beat yourself because you don’t fly to your full potential.”

More than 90 pilots, ranging from rookies to seasoned veterans, will be flying powered aircraft and gliders in categories based on the difficulty of maneuvers at the U.S. National Aerobatics Championships at North Texas Regional Airport — Perrin Field this week.

The first flight is a routine published in advance by IAC, then the pilot prepares a routine to perform for the second flight. The third flight is called “unknown” because it is not given to the pilot until the day of competition, Heuer said. Although they don’t know the order of the sequence in advance, he said pilots already know the elements and techniques.

“Most people do this because it makes them better pilots,” Heuer said. “’Not everyone wants to join the competition, but they want to learn aerobatics because it makes a difference in how good of a pilot you are. It makes you understand the entire flight envelope of the airplane in the skill and maneuvering of the aircraft.”

Marty Flournoy of Georgia said the anticipation is tough, but when the engine cranks the pilot’s blood really starts to pump.

“You go into fighter pilot mode and know you have a mission,” Flournoy said. “Your feet start tingling because you’re almost cutting the circulation off (with double seatbelts) because if you don’t, you’ll be flailing around the cockpit … when you launch — the acceleration of the airplane is phenomenal.”

Aerobatic pilots find a moment of peace for a second before they start, Flournoy said. In the midst of the ups and downs, the pilot has to remain focused on the sequence card even if he or she has memorized it before the competition.

“It’s a love-hate relationship,” Flournoy said. “You love what it does and the challenge, but in the middle of the flight, you can’t think of anything else. … For a lot of us, it’s great thing to do after work because even if you got economic problems, can you jump in that airplane and feel like Walter Mitty for a few hours.”

Visualizing the flight is what helps Ben Freelove of California prepare for the competition. He said everyone has their own rituals, but it’s important to remind yourself that you are just a pilot so “check the winds, dive into the aerobatic box and let it all rip.”

The biggest challenge of the aerobatics is the cost of time and of money, Freelove said. Over the years, he said pilots start to feel some wear and tear from aerobatic flying. There are some days he has to take easier than others.

“Every time I feel like I can’t afford it anymore or my neck is hurting too bad, I always find myself doing it again,” Freelove said. “I think most aerobatic pilots are control freaks so the idea about aerobatic flying is this idea of doing something perfectly and having a machine that’s capable of doing it. The little taste of success always keeps you coming back and wants you to do better next time.”

As far as economic costs, Freelove said there is a big range of price to buy an aircraft for competition. A cheaper airplane could range from $20,000 to $25,000, while the top of the line would cost a pilot about $500,000.

Depending on how much a pilot practices, Freelove said it could cost $400 to $500 per hour to operate the airplane. In order to keep costs down, he said he borrows airplanes from his friends to compete as well as trading parts with other pilots.

“I think it’s hard sport for people who aren’t pilots or people who haven’t flown aerobatics because it’s hard to connect since it seems so abstract,” Freelove said. “What I would love to do is share with people is the idea of how to do this kind of flying. It’s such an absolute feeling of freedom, self-control and self-confidence. It would be awesome if you could give everybody a taste so they could see that.”

- See more at: http://heralddemocrat.com

Ben Freelove shares his thoughts of the different types of aircraft pilots can use for competition. Freelove is competing in the U.S. Aerobatic Championships at North Texas Regional Airport — Perrin Field this week.

Huron Township, Michigan: Couple says plane parts keep falling in backyard


HURON TOWNSHIP, Mich. – Local 4 has been looking into an issue of airplane parts falling into a couple’s backyard all weekend, but why isn’t the FAA also looking into it? 
 
“This we found here over by a tree,” said one neighbor of a plane part she said fell into a yard.

Neighbors Leslie Barns and Ann Miller say the pieces of plane easily could have hit them.

It appears the pieces landed right in their backyard in Huron Township. They say they usually sit outside and have a fire, but the pieces could have killed them.

Two pieces that were found fit together and look like an engine covering.

The Millers’ house is exactly 5.2 miles from Metro Airport. Not only did the pieces fall in their yard, they believe they fell on Labor Day, and they haven’t gotten any response from officials they’ve been calling since.

The Millers contacted Local 4 and we found that serial numbers on the pieces come back to aircraft company short brothers that make small transport aircraft. Some used by delivery companies.

Local 4 sent the FAA this weekend video of the parts, showing them that it’s clearly from a plane. The FAA says that is “impossible to tell,” saying the people who found it have to call the police first.

“If law enforcement thinks it might be a plane, they will contact FAA, and an investigator can review the item(s),” said Elizabeth Isham Cory of the FAA

Contacting law enforcement is exactly what the Millers are going to do next.

Story, video and photo gallery:  http://www.clickondetroit.com




Rex Damschroder shares love of flight with youths

 Rex Damschroder has been flying since he was a young teen, and he shared that passion for flight with area kids this summer during a Youth Flight Camp at the Fremont Airport.



FREMONT — When Rex Damschroder began learning to fly 50 years ago, he was just a 13-year-old boy, not even old enough for a driver’s license. His father and other pilots at the Fremont Airport gave him ground lessons and then took him in the air. 

He obtained his instructor’s license when he was just 18. “I’ve been teaching people to fly my whole life,” he said.

Damschroder shared that passion for flying with local teens during this summer’s Youth Flight Camp. Thirteen area kids ages 12 to 17 learned the basics of flying and had the opportunity to take the controls during a flight.

“We had a very sharp class. They really impressed me with their interest in what we were doing,” Damschroder said. “We had a lot of scholarly students. Several said they wanted to go on and learn more.”

Damschroder said that age 12 to 14 is the ideal time to try flying. It gives kids a taste of flight and the opportunity to learn a skill that can bring lifetime pleasure — and maybe a career.

“Every astronaut and every airline pilot out there had to learn to fly somewhere,” he said.

With enough instruction, teens can be eligible to solo on their 16th birthdays. That is just what Tyler Bowers did. The 20-year-old got his start at Fremont Airport, and he helped organize and served as an instructor at the Youth Flight Camp.

Bowers said the students learned everything from the different types of planes to aerodynamics. Guest speakers were local pilots, including an F-16 fighter pilot, an air traffic controller, a ProMedica helicopter pilot and a crop duster.

“It’s all homegrown,” Damschroder said of the speakers. “We’ve been in business 50 years, and aviation is strong here.”

Bowers said the students received simulator time to get hands-on experience before flying an actual plane, and each student received a logbook. The half-hour they spent flying will count toward official flying hours if they choose to pursue a pilot’s license.

“We would go up one at a time, and they would do some climbs, turns, glides and descents to see what it feels like, and the instructor would show them how to take off and land,” Damschroder said.

Youth Flight Camp student Garrison Click, 14, of Vickery, said the week-long class was exciting. Click is a student and soccer player at Temple Christian Academy, a ministry of Fremont Baptist Temple. He said the pilot he went in the air with allowed him to choose where to go.

“We flew right over our church. The soccer field was very small from up there,” he said.

Garrison’s 12-year-old brother, Micah, also attended the camp. He enjoyed the opportunity to learn about and operate drones.

“It was just like a remote-controlled helicopter. It had the feel of that,” Micah said. “They had an iPad showing your altitude, and you could see where you were from the iPad. Farmers use them so they can see their crops.”

The camp gave Zack Rusch, 16, his first experience flying a plane. He liked it so much, he has already begun private flying lessons.

“I liked everything about the camp — flying the plane, learning the parts of the plane, seeing how the plane is built and how it flies,” Rusch said. “Now I’m there all the time, and I’ll do my airtime next summer.”

Damschroder hopes to have another Youth Flight Camp next summer, and private lessons for all ages are available anytime. This winter, the Fremont Airport will offer a 10-week Private Pilot Ground School, now in its seventh year.

“We offer these in the winter, when it’s snowing outside, and there’s nothing else to do,” Damschroder said. “It’s a great time of the year to learn all the things you need to know to pass your written test.”

Those that attend will join the hundreds of people who learned how to fly from Damschroder, a former state representative. He ran Fostoria Airport for 15 years and has been managing the Fremont Airport since 2008. He said people are welcome to stop by anytime to request flying lessons.

“Bring your checkbook, and we’ll start tomorrow,” he said.

Source:  http://www.thenews-messenger.com

India's Billionaires Want Their Own Airport


  • SoftBank's Son needed ministerial help for fast jet trip
  • Bombardier sees more than 900% growth in private planes

On a recent trip to the Indian state of Chhattisgarh, federal Power Minister Piyush Goyal sensed the region could woo investment from SoftBank Group Corp.’s billionaire founder Masayoshi Son, who happened to be elsewhere in the country.

When Goyal asked for Son to fly to the state capital Raipur immediately, Son’s colleague -- mindful of India’s thicket of aviation rules -- thought the minister had lost his mind.

"He said, are you crazy?" Goyal recounted in a Sept. 8 interview in New Delhi. "We’re in a U.S.-registered plane, just to get a permission takes 14 days."

Goyal said he made about 10 calls to clear Son’s flight in just 15 minutes, a rare intervention that few in India can expect. Instead, onerous rules sometimes delay private planes by days and are causing India’s business jet fleet to shrink even as the economy grows 7 percent.

For a body representing billionaires such as tycoon Anand Mahindra, a step toward friendlier skies is to develop a network of airports just for private jets.

The group, the Business Aircraft Operators Association, is lobbying the government to turn an airport about 137 kilometers (85 miles) from the financial capital Mumbai into the country’s first airfield exclusively for business planes. It’s currently used by state-run Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd. for military aircraft.

"It’s about building an ecosystem for general and business aviation, and it’s also about creating jobs," Jayant Nadkarni, the association’s president in Gurgaon near New Delhi, said in an interview. "Our industry is in recession. We’ve seen slowing growth for the last seven to eight years, and this year it will be less than zero percent."

Hiroe Kotera, a spokeswoman for SoftBank in Tokyo, declined to comment on the incident described by Goyal.

India, China

Greater China had 330 business jets in 2013, more than double India’s 125, according to estimates from Bombardier Inc. The aerospace company forecasts stronger growth in India than China by 2033 -- more than 900 percent to 1,320 aircraft versus 600 percent to 2,525.

At the same time, Bombardier says in its market forecast that India’s "business aviation growth potential in the near term continues to be weighed down by high fees, taxes and bureaucracy," adding that fleet expansion has outpaced infrastructure growth, leaving inadequate facilities in Mumbai.
It’s easy to see why pressure from the rich to ease bottlenecks may intensify.

Growth

 
India is the fastest-growing major economy along with China, and according to Cap Gemini SA and Royal Bank of Canada the wealth of its high net worth individuals expanded at the quickest pace in the world last year to $785 billion. That provides plenty of ammunition for plane purchases.

The nation of 1.27 billion also has the seventh-biggest land area, with hundreds of airports that are too small for commercial airliners. Business jets can also be used as air ambulances, and are able to fly to remote areas.

Overall air travel is also growing, in part because of base fares sometimes as low as 2 cents on commercial carriers. Indian airlines need 1,740 new planes over the next 20 years valued at $240 billion, according to Boeing Co.

The average net worth of a private jet user is about nine times greater than a passenger flying first class in commercial carriers, according to Fabrizio Poli, managing partner of aviation firm Tyrus Wings in London. Allowing the rich to travel more easily encourages them to invest and create jobs, he said.

In Mumbai, a lack of space at the main airport forces small aircraft planning stops of more than 48 hours to park hundreds of miles away after dropping off their passengers, according to the Business Aircraft Operators Association.

Bad Timing

They also face restrictions in Mumbai from taking off or landing at just the time billionaires might want to: 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. to arrive for the day’s deal-making, and 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. when their work is done.

The billionaire Indian Poonawalla family doesn’t have a parking slot in the financial capital and so stores its jet in Pune, about 118 kilometers from Mumbai.

"It takes three to four days to get a permission to take off, whereas it should be three to four hours," said Adar Poonawalla, the chief executive of Serum Institute of India Ltd., Asia’s largest vaccine maker. "When you want a modification or change, it takes two days."

Whether the government will move quickly to help the country’s wealthiest fly more easily is an open question, given the pressure to focus instead on helping the more than 750 million Indians living on less than $2 per day.

"Policymakers in India consider it politically risky to be seen supporting business jets," said Amber Dubey, the New Delhi-based head of aerospace at KPMG. "This is despite the fact that they themselves are key users. It’s seen as the playground of the super-rich."

Source:  http://www.bloomberg.com

Incident occurred September 20, 2015 near Bowland Forest Gliding Club, Chipping, Lancashire, England



A glider crash landed in the Ribble Valley this morning, leaving two people with leg injuries.

The aircraft was approaching the landing area at Bowland Forest Gliding Club at Lower Cock Hill Farm, Fiddlers Lane, near Chipping when it crashed at around 11.20am.

Police said the glider, with a male instructor and a 57-year-old female student on board, fell 30ft on a practice flight. The pilot, aged 53, was said to be experienced.

Ambulance, police, fire crews and air ambulances were sent to the scene.

A spokesman for Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service said the pilot and passenger were ‘conscious but trapped in the aircraft’.

Two crews used hydraulic cutting equipment to release the pair, who were flown separately to Royal Preston Hospital.

Story and photo gallery:   http://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk



Amid Israeli Pilots’ Outcry, Transportation Minister Cancels ‘Closed Skies’ Over Supermodel Bar Refaeli’s Wedding

Israel’s transportation minister overturned a Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) decision to restrict the airspace over the Carmel Forest spa resort in Haifa for the duration of the upcoming wedding of supermodel Bar Refaeli to businessman Adi Ezra, Israel’s Channel 2 reported on Sunday.

The reversal from Transportation Minister Yisrael Katz came on the heels of an outcry on the part of Israeli pilots and the public. This followed the release of a CAA directive, announcing that pilots would be forbidden from flying within four kilometers of, and below 3,000 feet above, the wedding venue from 5 p.m. Thursday, September 24 until 2 a.m. Friday, September 25. The directive further stated that anyone violating it would risk losing his pilot’s license.

Ahead of the much-touted nuptials, the internationally renowned blonde beauty — famous for her spreads in many magazines, including Sports Illustrated; for her hosting the popular TV show, “X-Factor Israel;” and for her previous romance with mega-movie-star Leonardo DiCaprio – seemed to have forgotten she was not in Hollywood, where such policies about airspace are commonplace among celebrities.

Because she had hired drones, helicopters and a hot air balloon for the big day, which has led the gossip columns for weeks, Refaeli was granted permission to prevent private aviators and potential paparazzi from “clouding” her skies.

Ordering the CAA to cancel the directive, Katz said, “The skies belong to all of Israel’s citizens, and this event cannot take precedence over others. Equality and the appearance of such must be preserved with regard to the granting of flight permits.”

Source:  https://www.algemeiner.com

Air India flight to New York returns to Delhi for medical aid

New Delhi: A New York-bound Air India Boeing turned back mid-air and landed at the Indira Gandhi International airport on Saturday after a male passenger complained of breathing problem, the state-run carrier said.

“The B777 long-haul non-stop flight (AI 101), which took off from the city airport around 2 a.m., returned to the airport at 5 a.m. for emergency medical aid to the sick passenger onboard,” an Air India spokesman told IANS here.

Though the plane with 327 passengers was airborne for 150 minutes, flight commander Captain Zoya Agarwal decided to turn back to Delhi after the passenger complained of breathlessness and was in need of urgent medical attention.

The ailing passenger was rushed to a nearby hospital immediately after the plane touched down.

“Timely action helped provide urgent medicate and the passenger’s condition is stable,” the carrier said in a statement later.

The flight took off for New York soon after the passenger was wheeled out for treatment.

The spokesman did not give the name and age of the passenger or details such as where he hailed from and to which destination he was flying to in the US.

Source:  http://www.firstpost.com

Cessna 150H, N22721, Eagle View Flight: Fatal accident occurred September 20, 2015 in Morrisville, New York

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

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

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

BARGABOS EARTHWORKS INC:   http://registry.faa.gov/N22721

The National Transportation Safety Board traveled to the scene of this accident.

FAA Flight Standards District Office:  FAA Albany FSDO-01

NTSB Identification: ERA15FA362
14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Sunday, September 20, 2015 in Morrisville, NY
Probable Cause Approval Date: 01/31/2017
Aircraft: CESSNA 150H, registration: N22721
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 private pilot rented the airplane for a local pleasure flight and departed the airport with full fuel tanks. The airplane had been flying for about 30 minutes and then began a series of turns with its altitude fluctuating between 1,900 and 2,100 ft mean sea level (about 600 to 800 ft above ground level). About that time, one witness reported the engine began "spitting and sputtering" and experienced a total loss of power. Other witnesses reported that the engine stopped, restarted, and then lost power again. The airplane subsequently pitched nose down and entered a spin before ground impact, which is indicative of an aerodynamic stall. Postaccident examination of the airframe and engine did not reveal any evidence of preimpact malfunctions; however, damage to the engine and its associated components precluded a functional check of the engine. Additionally, there were no anomalies noted or reported with the fuel source that would have resulted in a loss of engine power. Although the environmental conditions were favorable for serious carburetor icing at glide power, it is likely the pilot was operating the airplane in cruise flight before the reported engine fluctuations.

The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident as follows:
The pilot's failure to maintain airspeed and her exceedance of the airplane's critical angle-of-attack, which led to an aerodynamic stall, following a total loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined because postaccident examination of the airframe and engine did not reveal any anomalies that would have precluded normal operation.

HISTORY OF FLIGHT

On September 20, 2015, about 1251 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 150H, N22721, registered to and operated by Bargabos Earthworks, Inc., dba Eagle View Flight, was destroyed when it collided with trees then terrain near Morrisville, New York. The private pilot and one passenger were fatally injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal, local flight that departed from Hamilton Municipal Airport (VGC), Hamilton, New York, about 1217.

The airplane owner indicated that the pilot rented the airplane for the purpose of a pleasure flight. About 20 minutes after departure, he heard her announce on the VGC common traffic advisory frequency that she was over Colgate University, which was the last communication from her. He further indicated there was no distress call made by the pilot.

Review of air route surveillance radar data revealed an uncorrelated visual flight rules target with a 1200 transponder code at 1217:53, at 1,300 feet mean sea level (msl) was located 347 degrees and 0.4 nautical mile from the departure end of runway 35 at VGC. The target, which was consistent with the accident airplane's departure, proceeded north and then east of VGC, where a 270 degree turn occurred, followed by proceeding in a southerly direction flying around Colgate University where another 270 degree turn occurred. The flight then proceeded in a north-northwesterly direction flying between 2,300 and 2,400 ft msl east and north of VGC until 1245, and then turned to the left and proceeded in a westerly direction until 1249. The flight turned right to a northwesterly direction until 1250, then performed a 180 degree turn to the left and proceeded in a south-southeasterly direction with an increase and decrease in altitude noted. The flight continued in the south-southeasterly direction until about 1251; the altitude was noted to increase from 1,900 to 2,000 ft between the last two radar returns, which were 12 seconds apart. The last uncorrelated radar target was at 1251:17, at 2,000 ft msl. The accident site was located about 141 degrees and 1,600 ft from the last radar target.

Witnesses who were located along or near the airplane's final flight path reported hearing an engine malfunction, that was described as "spitting and sputtering." Several witnesses also reported that the engine experienced a total loss of power while the airplane was climbing, then it restarted when the airplane was descending. The engine was heard to lose power again while climbing consistent with the altitude increase during the last two radar returns, but the engine did not restart during the subsequent descent. The airplane was then observed to pitch nose-down and then "spiraled towards the ground." One of the witnesses who was located northwest of the accident site and was on a tractor with the engine running reported he did not see any smoke trailing the airplane.

One witness drove to the area and located the wreckage, then directed first responders to the accident site.

PERSONNEL INFORMATION

The pilot, age 18, seated in the left seat, held a private pilot certificate with an airplane single-engine land rating issued August 17, 2015. She held a third class medical certificate with no limitations issued October 3, 2013.

A review of the pilot's logbook that contained entries from her first logged flight dated August 2, 2013, to her last logged flight dated September 2, 2015, revealed she logged a total time of 130.6 hours, of which 13.9 hours were as pilot-in-command (PIC). Of the 13.9 hours logged as PIC, 1.1 hours were in the accident airplane. In the last 90 and 30 days, she logged 14.1 hours and 3.4 hours, respectively, of which 2.9 hours were in the accident airplane.

According to the airplane owner, he flew with the accident pilot in the accident airplane on two separate flights as part of a checkout for insurance purposes. The checkout flights were performed on August 29 and 30, 2015; the flight duration of both was recorded to be 1.8 hours. The flights included practice departure stalls, approach to landing stalls, a power off stall from a left skidding turn, and several simulated engine failures; one of which culminated with a landing to a grass field. The airplane owner indicated that the accident pilot performed all the maneuvers "very well."

According to Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) records, the passenger did not hold any pilot certificate.

AIRCRAFT INFORMATION

The airplane was manufactured in 1968 by Cessna Aircraft Company. It was powered by a 100 horsepower Continental O-200-A engine, and equipped with a McCauley 1A101DCM 6948 fixed pitch propeller.

On September 16 and 17, 2015, the airplane was flown by a private pilot. The total flight duration of both flights was reported to be .9 hour. The private pilot reported that he did not experience any abnormal issues during the flights. He further recalled that the stall warning horn activated during one landing, just before touchdown.

Review of the engine logbook revealed the engine was overhauled last on June 26, 1980; the engine total time before overhaul was unknown. At the engine overhaul, new Slick magnetos were installed. The engine was installed at tachometer time 2,816, and had accrued about 2,059 hours since overhaul at the time of the accident.

According to maintenance records, the airplane's last annual inspection was signed off as being completed on April 8, 2015, at an airframe total time of 4,821.4 hours. The airplane had been operated about 55 hours since the inspection.

METEOROLOGICAL INFORMATION

A weather observation taken at Griffiss International Airport (RME), Rome, New York, at 1253, reported the visibility was 10 statute miles, and few clouds at 3,800 ft. The temperature and dew point were 17 and 7 degrees Celsius respectively, and the altimeter setting was 30.16 inches of mercury. The accident site was located about 22 nautical miles south-southwest from RME.

According to a carburetor icing probability chart found in FAA Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin CE-09-35, the temperature and dew point reported at RME about the time of the accident were favorable for "serious icing at glide power."

WRECKAGE AND IMPACT INFORMATION

The airplane crashed at the edge of a tree line adjacent to a field. The accident site was located about 310 degrees and 6 nautical miles from the geographic center of VGC. Further inspection of the immediate area revealed a gentle sloped clearing at a higher elevation about 700 feet and 160 degrees from the accident site location.

The airplane came to rest with the empennage elevated at a 60 degree angle from the ground. The empennage was lying over both wings, which was oriented on a magnetic heading of 308 degrees. Inspection of the immediate area revealed damage to several tree limbs of an 80-foot tall tree about 30 feet above ground level; the tree limbs were damaged on the northwest side of the tree. The heading from the damaged tree limbs to the main wreckage was approximately 194 degrees. Also located in the immediate wreckage area were tree limbs of varying diameters, none of which exhibited evidence of smooth cuts oriented at a 45-degree angle. All primary and secondary flight controls and structure remained attached or were in close proximity to the main wreckage. No pre or postcrash fire was noted on any component of the wreckage.

Examination of the cockpit, which was destroyed by impact revealed the pilot's seat remained attached to the seat tracks at all seat feet positions; the seat lock pin was in the fourth hole from the front, and a safety stop was in place on the inboard seat track. The pilot's lapbelt and shoulder harness remained attached, but the lapbelt webbing was cut. The co-pilot's seat remained attached at the left forward and right aft seat feet positions. The co-pilot's lapbelt and shoulder harness were not buckled. The pilot's control yoke was fractured, while the right horn of the co-pilot's control yoke was fractured. The airspeed indicator, which was separated from the instrument panel indicated 68 mph. The vertical speed indicator was separated from the instrument panel and the needle was separated from faceplate, no needle slap mark was noted. The throttle control was extended 1.75 inches, and the mixture control was fractured at the instrument panel. The carburetor heat control knob was missing and the control was extended 0.50 inch. The tachometer was impact damaged and the needle was missing, no needle slap mark was noted. A needle slap mark on the oil pressure gauge faceplate was noted at the lower end red line radial. The ignition switch was in the both position and the key was inserted but broken. The switch was impact damaged. It was disassembled with no evidence of any preimpact anomalies and subsequently functioned properly in all positions when tested. Examination of the engine primer control revealed the outer nut that secured the primer to panel was separated from the barrel. The primer was impact damaged; however, the knob was in the locked position and was required to be rotated about 180 degrees before it could be unlocked from the outer knurled nut, which was separated. Two cellular phones were recovered and retained for further examination.

Examination of the both wings revealed extensive impact damage. Both lift struts remained connected at both ends. Vented fuel caps remained installed on both fuel tanks, which were breached; no stains were noted aft of either fuel tank opening. Residual blue colored fuel consistent with 100 low lead fuel was found in the left fuel tank, while no fuel was found in the right fuel tank. Both flaps and ailerons remained connected; however, impact damage was noted to the left aileron, right flap, and right aileron. One flap cable remained connected to the flap bellcrank near the left flap control surface, but the other cable was pulled from the bellcrank and exhibited tension overload. The right flap pushrod was bent and the rod was fractured at the right flap attach point. The flap motor support was fractured, and the flap jackscrew had no threads extended, which equated to the flaps retracted position. The flap cable exhibited tension overload about 2 ft outboard from the bellcrank. Operational testing of the stall warning horn revealed it did not operate. The internal portion of the wing leading edge was accessed, which revealed the plastic tube remained connected to a portion of the housing, but the housing was fractured. When suction was applied to the portion of housing that was still attached to the plastic tube, the stall warning horn was heard to operate.

Examination of the flight control system revealed aileron, elevator, and rudder flight control continuity from the cockpit to each cable where cut for recovery, and from that point to each control surface. The elevator push/pull rod remained connected to the forward bellcrank, but the push/pull rod exhibited "S" type bending and was fractured near the control yoke attach point. Examination of the control yoke revealed the left and right control yoke chains were separated from the sprockets, and the chains were fractured into multiple pieces.

Examination of the left fuel supply line revealed it was broken at the tank outlet, and the vent interconnect was separated from the tank. The left fuel vent check valve was installed correctly, and the line was free of obstructions from the inlet into the tank. Examination of the right fuel supply revealed the fuel tank outlet screen was clean. The fuel vent interconnect was separated, but the line was free of obstructions from the left to right side. Examination of the airframe fuel supply revealed the fuel strainer did not contain any fuel; the screen was clean but the bowl contained brown colored dust. Examination of the fuel shutoff valve revealed the control arm was fractured, but the valve remained attached to the structure. The valve was in the full open position; impact damage was noted to the inlet and outlet fuel lines.

Examination of the empennage revealed it was displaced to the right with the leading edge of the horizontal stabilizer contacting the right side of the empennage. The vertical stabilizer with attached rudder and right horizontal stabilizer remained attached, while the left horizontal stabilizer and elevator were separated but found in close proximity to the main wreckage. Examination of the left horizontal stabilizer revealed a semi-circular dent on the leading edge near the root; the left elevator was pulled from the torque tube. The elevator trim tab actuator was extended 1-11/16 inches as measured from the housing to the center of the rod end attach bolt, which equated to tab trailing edge 4 degrees up.

Examination of the engine revealed all cylinders and the oil sump remained attached, although the oil sump was breached and crushed. The carburetor and attached airbox were impact separated but remained attached by the control cables. The throttle was partially open and the mixture control was near the full rich position. An impact mark on the mixture stop boss adjacent to the "R" position was noted; the mixture control cable broke during removal. The inlet fitting of the carburetor was broken off and the carburetor bowl did not contain any fuel. Further inspection of the carburetor revealed a gap was noted between the throttle body and bowl near the accelerator pump. The carburetor was retained for further examination. Crankshaft, camshaft, and valve train continuity, and thumb suction and compression were confirmed to cylinder Nos. 1, 2, and 4. Continuity was also observed to the rear of the engine. The No. 3 cylinder intake pushrod was dented aft, which precluded movement of the intake valve. The No. 3 cylinder was removed for examination, which revealed the ring gaps were not aligned, and no discrepancies with the valve train components were noted. Examination of the piston dome revealed normal combustion deposits and color.

Further examination of the engine revealed the left magneto remained partially attached to the accessory case by the lower clamp; the upper clamp and securing hardware remained in place, but the stud was bent up. The right magneto was separated from the engine but the clamps and securing hardware remained in-place. Both magnetos were retained for further inspection. All ignition leads were impact damaged; therefore, operational testing of the ignition harness could not be performed. All spark plugs remained secured to each cylinder, but the top spark plugs for the Nos. 2 and 4 cylinders were broken. The No. 4 top spark plug was completely separated but recovered at the site, while the No. 2 top spark plug remained attached by the ignition lead. The No. 1 top spark plug was noted to be finger loose, but it was bent, and damage to the adjacent cylinder fins was noted. All spark plugs were marked, removed, and inspected in accordance with a Champion Aviation Check-A-Plug chart; all were dark in color. The spark plugs were then tested in a spark plug tester at 80 psi; all tested good with the exception of the Nos. 2 and 3 top spark plugs. The No. 2 top spark plug was fractured and a shift of the center electrode was noted. Normal wear of the center and ground electrodes were noted. The No. 3 top spark plug was bent and the center electrode was displaced. Normal wear of the center and ground electrodes were noted.

Examination of the lubrication system components revealed the oil tank remained attached and the filler cap was in place, but the tank was breached and displaced. The oil pick-up screen was visible in the breached tank and was clean; no ferrous material was noted. The engine oil filter, which was safety wired, was removed and the filer media was cut out for inspection; no ferrous particles were present. The oil pump was also removed from the accessory case for inspection; no discrepancies with the gears or pump housing were noted.

Examination of the air induction system components revealed the airbox was heavily crushed, but the air induction filter was in-place; no obstruction of the air induction system components was noted. A screen was in place behind the filter. Inspection of the airbox revealed the carburetor heat cable remained attached, and the valve was found positioned in the "cold" position. No evidence of movement of the valve associated with impact was noted.

Examination of the exhaust system components revealed heavy crushing, but there were no obstructions of the exhaust system components and the internal baffles of the mufflers were intact with no separation of baffle noted.

Examination of the propeller, which remained attached to the engine revealed one blade was bent aft about 10 degrees near the blade tip, and the leading edge was twisted towards low pitch. Slight chordwise scratches were noted on the cambered side of the blade, and nicks were noted on the leading edge. The second blade was bent aft about 45 degrees beginning about 13 inches from the hub. Slight chordwise scratches were noted on the cambered side of the blade, and nicks were noted on the leading edge.

MEDICAL AND PATHOLOGICAL INFORMATION

An external examination of the pilot, and an autopsy of the passenger were performed by Onondaga County Medical Examiner, Syracuse, New York. The cause of death for both was listed as blunt impact injuries.

Forensic toxicology of specimens of the pilot and passenger were performed by the Medical Examiner's Office, and also by the FAA Bioaeronautical Sciences Research Laboratory (FAA), located in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. The Medical Examiner's toxicology report for the pilot indicated the results were negative for volatiles, carbon monoxide, and tested drugs, while the FAA toxicology report for the pilot indicated the results were negative for carbon monoxide, volatiles, and tested drugs; testing for cyanide was not performed.

The Medical Examiner's toxicology report for the passenger indicated the results were negative for volatiles, carbon monoxide, and tested drugs, while the FAA toxicology report for the passenger indicated the results were negative for carbon monoxide and volatiles. Testing for cyanide was not performed and unquantified amount of Ibuprofen was detected in the submitted urine specimen.

TESTS AND RESEARCH

Postaccident examination of the carburetor was performed at an FAA Certified Repair Station (FAA CRS). Although the carburetor exhibited extensive impact damage, it was subjected to operational testing, and displayed excessive leakage from the parting surfaces of the throttle body and bowl assemblies, which precluded additional testing. Disassembly examination revealed the outboard sides of both pontoons were crushed in, consistent with hydraulic deformation, and the interior of the carburetor bowl was clean. The float was subjected to hot submergence test and no bubbles were noted.

Postaccident examination of the left and right magnetos was performed at an FAA CRS. Impact damage to both precluded operational testing. The primary and secondary resistance readings of both coils, and both capacitors were within specification. No evidence of carbon tracing was noted to the distributor block of the left magneto. The right distributor block was not attached or located. Additional testing of the left coil could not be performed due to the separation of the coil tab, though testing of the right coil at the manufacturer's facility did not reveal any preimpact failure, which would have resulted in total loss of engine power.

Both recovered cellular phones (iPhone 5 and iPhone 6) were sent to the NTSB Vehicle Recorder Laboratory for attempts to download any still or video files associated with the accident flight. Both phones exhibited extensive impact damage; therefore, no data could be recovered.

ADDITIONAL DATA/INFORMATION

Fuel Information

The airplane was last fueled on September 19, 2015. According to fueler, both fuel tanks were filled with 100 low lead fuel to the top of each filler neck opening. The airplane had not been operated between the fueling and the departure of the accident flight.

Immediately after the accident, fuel operations at VGC were suspended. Subsequent checks of airport fuel samples for specific gravity and contaminates did not reveal any anomalies. Further, there were no reports of fuel related issues from other airplanes that were fueled from the same source as the accident airplane.

Weight and Balance Information

The latest weight and balance dated May 28, 2015, indicated that the airplane's empty weight was 1,086.29 pounds. Estimated weight calculations that were performed based on a full fuel load at takeoff, and the weights of the pilot and passenger (140 pounds each) reported during autopsy, revealed that the airplane was operating within its weight limitations at takeoff.

NTSB Identification: ERA15FA362
14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Sunday, September 20, 2015 in Morrisville, NY
Aircraft: CESSNA 150H, registration: N22721
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 September 20, 2015, about 1251 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 150H, N22721, registered to and operated by Bargabos Earthworks, Inc., experienced a loss of control in-flight and collided with trees then terrain near Morrisville, New York. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and flight plan information is unknown at this time for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal, local, flight from Hamilton Municipal Airport (VGC), Hamilton, New York. The airplane was destroyed by impact forces and the private pilot and one passenger were fatally injured. The flight originated from VGC about 1218.

The airplane owner indicated that the pilot rented the airplane for the purpose of a pleasure flight. He also indicated about 20 minutes after takeoff, he heard the pilot announce on the VGC common traffic advisory frequency that the flight was over Colgate University. That was the last communication he heard from her, and there were no distress calls made by the pilot.

Witnesses who were located about 1 nautical mile northwest of the accident site reported seeing the airplane flying in a southeasterly direction. One witness described the airplane's altitude as "very low". The engine sounded as if it were, "spitting and sputtering", and while climbing to gain altitude, the engine sound ceased completely. The airplane then began descending and the engine sound restarted, followed by the airplane leveling off. The airplane then began climbing again, and the engine sound ceased for a second time and did not restart. The airplane then pitched nose down and spiraled to the ground.

Any witnesses should email witness@ntsb.gov, and any friends and family who want to contact investigators about the accident should email assistance@ntsb.gov.



Cathryn V. Depuy
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Cathryn (Carey) Virginia Depuy, 18, of Ridgefield, Connecticut died tragically in a plane crash on Sunday, September 20, 2015 in Eaton, New York, near Colgate University, where she had matriculated only one month ago.

She was the cherished daughter of Cathleen and James Depuy, loving sister of Burke Depuy and the beloved granddaughter of Kathleen Wright of Rye, NY. 

Carey was born in Greenwich, Connecticut on Saint Patrick's Day, March 17, 1997 and lived in Ridgefield, Connecticut her entire life.  She attended Saint Mary School in Ridgefield from pre-K to eighth grade and graduated from Ridgefield High School in June 2015.  Carey’s acceptance to Colgate University represented the culmination of her college dream and she was looking forward to earning her undergraduate degree in Economics. 

Carey distinguished herself in academics and athletics while at Ridgefield High School and was an acknowledged leader in both school and community activities. She was on the Honor Roll throughout her high school career and was inducted as a member of the National Honor Society in her junior year.  She received the Academic Excellence Award in Honors English as a sophomore and was the recipient of the University of Michigan Book Award in her junior year.  Carey was the 2015 recipient of the Colonel Richard E. Romine Scholarship Award from the Ridgefield Marine Corps League, an award presented to those who have demonstrated excellence in academics, sports and leadership.   

Carey was a lacrosse team member at Ridgefield High School for four years and a cross country team member since her sophomore year. She was co-captain of both the women’s cross country team and lacrosse team in her senior year. In September 2014, Carey was named Scholar Athlete of the Month by the Fairfield County Interscholastic Athletic Conference. “She was a very happy, outgoing, and inclusive person,” said Ridgefield women’s cross country head coach John Goetz about Carey. “She made friends with everyone on the team, whether they were her senior classmates or new freshmen. She always seemed to have the right words to make people happy and feel good about themselves. She wouldn’t just say “hi, how’s it going.” She’d stop and spend one or two minutes truly trying to find out how it was going. She really loved and cared about everyone around her.” In June 2015, Carey was awarded the Bryan C. McCarthy Spirit of the Game Award for lacrosse and was named a Scholar Athlete by the Ridgefield High School Athletic Advisory Council. At Colgate University, Carey was a new member of the women's cross country team. 

In addition to her high school academic achievements and athletic pursuits, Carey was the holder of a private pilot’s license. She also studied martial arts and was awarded a second degree black belt in Soo Bahk Do.  She volunteered at an assisted living facility, served as a tutor and worked in her parish at Saint Mary to organize clothing collections for the poor and homeless. 

Carey was a joyful, kind, enterprising and gifted young woman with a promising life ahead. Carey’s sudden death has left her immediate and extended family shocked and inconsolable.  She will be missed greatly. 

In addition to her parents, sister and maternal grandmother, Carey is survived by many aunts, uncles and cousins from both the Wright and Depuy families. 

Calling hours will be on Sunday, September 27, from 1 PM to 5 PM at Kane Funeral Home, 25 Catoonah St., Ridgefield.  A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Monday, September 28, at 10 AM in St. Mary Church, 55 Catoonah St., Ridgefield.

Contributions in Carey's memory may be made to the

Carey V. Depuy Kindness Scholarship Fund

C/O Ridgefield High School - PTSA

700 North Salem Road

Ridgefield, CT 06877

Source:  http://jowdykanefuneralhome.com




Ryan Michael Adams 


Ryan Michael Adams, 18, of Ridgefield, Connecticut died tragically in a plane crash on Sunday, September 20, 2015 in Eaton, New York, just seven days after his 18th birthday.

He is the precious son of Mary Lou Hanney and John Adams and the beloved brother of Kelly Adams whose lives will never be the same.

Ryan was born in White Plains, New York on September 13, 1997 and was raised in Ridgefield, Connecticut. Ryan attended Ridgefield public schools through seventh grade, and then transferred to and graduated from St. Luke’s School of New Canaan. Four weeks ago to the day, Ryan started what was to be a promising college career at Colgate University in Hamilton, New York, his mother’s alma mater.

Anyone who had the privilege of meeting Ryan can attest to what a truly remarkable person he was. Ryan had so much promise. Losing him at such an early age is completely devastating to his family, as well as anyone who knew him.

Ryan was a Boy Scout since first grade where he was an active member of Cub Scout Pack 124 and Boy Scout Troops 116 and 76. From the start, Ryan made his mark in scouts. He rose to every challenge and excelled in all aspects of scouting.

Most notably, Ryan earned the highly-coveted rank of Eagle Scout in eighth grade at the young age of 13, making him among the youngest Eagle Scouts in the nation. At his Eagle Scout Court of Honor, his Assistant Scoutmaster said this: “(Ryan’s) personal focus on excellence and achievement have allowed him to rise to the rank of Eagle faster than any other scout I’ve worked with…Along the way, Ryan has become well respected by his peers because he knows what he’s doing and he’s always willing to help others at all times…But for all these accomplishments, it is Ryan’s scout spirit that makes him stand out in my mind.”

Ryan’s illustrious scouting career continued after earning his Eagle. He was elected by his fellow scouts to the Order of the Arrow, Scouting’s honor society. He held numerous leadership positions in the troop, including Senior Patrol Leader (highest scout position in the troop) and seven terms as Assistant Senior Patrol Leader. In addition, he earned four Eagle Palm awards, and the Pope Pius XII and Ad Altare Dei Religious Emblem awards. Most recently, he was awarded the Connecticut Eagle Scout of the Year by the American Legion and Connecticut Scout of the Year by the VFW, sponsored by Danbury Post 149.

A former advisor to Ryan at St. Luke’s often called Ryan the “Renaissance Man” because of his varied interests and extraordinary talent.

Ryan was an outdoor enthusiast and pursued these interests with the same heart and passion that he devoted to scouts. Ryan obtained his PADI Open Water Scuba certification in Honduras with his cousin and then had the opportunity to dive the Great Barrier Reef in Australia while on a trip with his parents and sister. Ryan also obtained U.S. Sailing certifications for Keelboat, Cruising, Bareboat Cruising and Catamarans. This past summer he was a member of the crew of the Tenacity, sailing out of Rowayton, Connecticut. Ryan was so looking forward to coming home at the end of October and sailing in the final regatta.

Other outdoor interests of Ryan included backpacking in the mountains of New Mexico and the Adirondacks, surfing in the cold ocean of New Hampshire, and whitewater rafting and rock climbing in Colorado and Alaska.

Ryan was an avid golfer and played on the Varsity golf team at St. Luke’s. His golf instructor said this: “(Ryan) is the All Star student all teachers want in their stable. Highly motivated, passionate, talented, humble, strong listener, and asks questions to understand the process… Ryan is respectful and always looking out for the people around him. He is a delight to be around and highly intelligent. I see big things in his future. I don’t think there is anything he can’t accomplish if he puts his mind to it. I am honored to work with such a special young man.”

Ryan’s new love was squash. He joined the Varsity squash team at St. Luke’s in his senior year, after playing three years of Varsity Ice Hockey. At Colgate, he enjoyed playing squash with his new friends and was planning on playing on the club team.

Also at St. Luke’s, Ryan was the Founder and President of the Support our Soldiers Club and the Vice President of the Investment Club. And in addition to his many other interests, Ryan played the piano and trumpet.

Ryan was a true academic. He loved to learn for learning’s sake. He was an insatiable reader, particularly about World War II. One of Ryan’s Colgate professors, recognizing Ryan’s vast knowledge of World War II, reread a book he was assigning to his class just so he could be “one step ahead” of Ryan. Another professor tearfully said that Ryan was a “star among stars”.

Ryan intended on double majoring in Economics and International Relations at Colgate and was already taking three courses toward his double major. His interest in finance began at St. Luke’s where he did his senior thesis on identifying a correlation between U.S. economic factors and those of developed market economies, and he created a model to predict the growth of developing and emerging markets which earned him a STEM distinction. Ryan’s finance teacher and mentor said this in a letter he wrote to Ryan: “I always preach how important it is to leave a legacy. Make a mark that inspires others, and you will ultimately be better for it. Well there is no doubt that you were stolen from us too early, but you have made a mark. Your energy will always be alive within me and I trust that you will always be looking over my finance classroom. Your spirit for adventure will always inspire me to take that extra wave, when I think it is time to head in or that extra run at the end of the day.” Ryan had hoped to work on Wall Street and was already working with the Colgate Career Planning Office to secure a summer internship.

Ryan was a Connecticut Boys’ State delegate in June 2014, sponsored by Ridgefield American Legion Post 78. Ryan was elected Boys’ State Treasurer and received the Stempick Award. He returned as Junior Leader in June 2015. Ryan was also the Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer of the Connecticut Boys’ State Foundation.

Ryan was a member of St. Mary Parish in Ridgefield. He taught a first-grade religious education class with his mother and sister for two years. He was also an ordained Eucharistic Minister, bringing Holy Communion to the homebound. A former priest at St. Mary’s said this: “Ryan is an open, unspoiled, and genuinely kind young person whose interest in others is noticeable, especially to those who might be alienated or in need of friendship.”

Ryan’s sudden and unexpected passing is a tremendous loss for his mom, dad and sister. The four of them were extremely close. They enjoyed traveling together, most recently going to Amsterdam, Norway and Belgium. Thankfully, Ryan’s mom, dad and sister drove to Colgate on September 13th to help celebrate Ryan’s 18th birthday. They decorated their hotel room with streamers, balloons and a Happy Birthday banner just as they had done at home for the past 17 birthdays, and then took him out for dinner. The next morning they met him outside his dorm and spent forty minutes walking around campus with him. They hugged and kissed him good-bye outside Wynn Hall before he went to his freshman seminar. That was the last time they saw him. They are heartbroken and devastated.

In addition to his parents John and Mary Lou and his sister Kelly, Ryan is survived by his maternal grandmother, Elizabeth (Chema) Hanney formerly of Fort Myers, Florida and Yorktown Heights, New York; paternal grandmother, Dorothy Adams of Rye, New Hampshire formerly of Glen Cove, New York; his aunt and Godmother, Colleen Hanney Cunney of White Plains, New York; his uncle and Godfather Kevin Hanney of Ponte Vedra, Florida; his uncle Michael Hanney of Huntington, New York; his uncle Robert Adams of Greenlawn, New York; his uncle James Adams of Andover, Massachusetts; their spouses; and Ryan’s treasured cousins and friends. Ryan was predeceased by his grandfathers John (Jack) Hanney and James Adams.

Calling hours will be on Friday, September 25th from 4 pm to 9 pm at Kane Funeral Home, 24 Catoonah Street, Ridgefield. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Saturday, September 26th, at 11 am in St. Mary’s Church, 55 Catoonah Street, Ridgefield. 

Source:  http://jowdykanefuneralhome.com


Cathryn “Carey” Depuy and Ryan Adams




Shedding tears, Ridgefield High girls cross country runners embrace after finishing Tuesday's meet in Trumbull. The Tigers dedicated the race to Carey Depuy, a senior captain on last year's team, who was killed in a plane crash Sunday.


On an emotional day, the Ridgefield High girls cross country team honored a recent teammate by sweeping four opponents Tuesday afternoon in Trumbull.

The Tigers dedicated the race to Carey Depuy, a senior captain on last year’s team, who died in a plane crash on Sunday in Morrisville, N.Y. The Ridgefield runners wrote Carey’s first name on their cheeks and wore ribbons in their hair.

“She was a very happy, outgoing, and inclusive person,” said Ridgefield head coach John Goetz about Depuy, who was a freshman at Colgate University. “She made friends with everyone on the team, whether they were her senior classmates or new freshmen.

“She always seemed to have the right words to make people happy and feel good about themselves. She wouldn’t just say “hi, how’s it going.” She’d stop and spend one or two minutes truly trying to find out how it was going. She really loved and cared about everyone around her.”

Running in honor of Depuy, Ridgefield defeated New Canaan (15-43), St. Joseph (15-50), Trinity Catholic (15-50) and Wilton (21-36), capturing five of the top seven individual spots in the race and improving its record to 7-0.

Ridgefield’s top-four finishers all posted personal-best times in the race. Julia Hergenrother (19:24), Ava Kelley (19:24), Olivia Gorski (19:53) and Rachel Maue (20:05), finished second, third, fourth and fifth, respectively. Kelsey Bordash (20:38) added a seventh-place finish to complete the Ridgefield scoring.

Wilton’s Mary Lynch led the entire race, completing the course in 19:18.  Lynch was ahead by as many as 20 seconds during the race, but Ridgefield, behind Hergenrother and Kelley, steadily closed the gap.

Notes: The Ridgefield boys team went 1-2-1 in its four head-to-head meets Tuesday. The Tigers got a 15-50 forfeit victory over Trinity, tied St. Joseph, 29-29, and lost to Wilton, 18-41, and New Canaan, 20-43.

Brad DeMassa was Ridgefield’s top finisher, placing fifth overall in 17:22.

Francisco Turdera (19th, 19:13), Luke St. Pierre (22nd, 19:27), Ian Ostrosky (23rd, 19:17) and Sean Seavy (26th, 19:27) also contributed to the Tigers’ team score.

Source:  http://www.theridgefieldpress.com
 








Erroneous information has been circulated throughout the media stating that Carey Depuy, who was piloting a small plane that crashed Sunday in upstate New York killing her and a Ryan Adams, was not permitted to carry passengers. We have confirmed that this information is false.

According to personnel at Danbury Airport, Depuy received FULL pilot privileges on August 17, 2015 at 1:44 pm. "I have her certificate right here in front of me," they stated. On August 17 Depuy was issued a Temporary Airman Certificate. "She will be mailed her permanent certificate by the FAA," they told HamletHub.

A Temporary Airman Certificate allows the certificate holder to carry passengers legally, they do not need to have an instructor flying with them. 

Please continue to keep the Depuy and Adams family, along with their loved ones, in your prayers.

Story and comments: http://news.hamlethub.com


From the podium, NTSB investigator Timothy Monville discusses his probe of a Sunday plane crash in Morrisville. Behind him from left are: Capt. Eric Ali, of the Madison County Sheriff’s Office; Madison County Undersheriff John Ball; Eaton town supervisor, Cliff Moses; and partially hidden from view is Madison County Sheriff Allen Riley.


EATON >> Witnesses to a Sunday afternoon plane crash that killed two college students said they could hear the plane “spitting and sputtering” before the engine gave out.


National Transportation Safety Board investigator Timothy Monville detailed events around the accident that killed Colgate University freshmen Cathryn “Carey” Depuy and Ryan Adams, both 18 and from Ridgefield, Conn. Depuy was piloting the single-engine Cessna out of Hamilton Municipal Airport, also called the Hamilton Airpark, when it went down around 12:53 p.m. Sunday near a heavily-wooded area about a half-mile off Old Country Road, according to the Madison County Sheriff’s Office. Adams was her passenger.

Monville said witnesses in the neighborhood of the crash site - who were the ones who reported the incident to 911 - heard the plane “spitting and sputtering,” heard the engine quit then re-start and quit again, then observed a “spiral descent” toward the wooded area crash site.

He added there was no post-crash fire. Depuy and Adams were found dead on the scene, and their bodies were extricated from the aircraft and transported to the Onondaga County Medical Examiner’s Office in Syracuse for autopsies. Results from the autopsies and toxicology reports could take 6-8 weeks, Monville said.

As of right now, he said it’s too early to tell what caused the crash. There were no radio transmissions from the plane regarding distress and the “airplane did not have a recording device or GPS,” Monville said.

Investigators are also looking into where Depuy and her friend were headed that day.

What investigators know is that Depuy and Adams left the Airpark around 12:15 to 12:20 p.m. Sunday, and that Depuy radioed her location to the airplane owner once she flew over Colgate University about 20 minutes later.

The wreckage has since been moved to an undisclosed location for further inspection of the engine and mechanics of the plane, and he is reviewing all flight logs, maintenance records and certification records for the pilot. Monville estimates his investigation will take at least nine months to complete.

Monville said Depuy had 130 hours of flight time and had received her private pilot certification in August. She was also cleared to fly with a passenger.

She had also logged 2.9 hours of flight from Hamilton Airpark, which included some of that time with a flight instructor in the same plane, he said. Additional details regarding how much time was with the instructor and whether Depuy had flown any other planes from the Airpark were unavailable. Monville did say that typical FAA minimum standards call for at least 40 hours of flight for certification, but it can vary depending on what flight school one attends.

He said her 130 hours logged exceeded the minimum standard, but declined to provide the name of her flight school because of an ongoing investigation into that aspect of the case.

He said another pilot had flown the plane recently with no problem.

“Our thoughts and prayers” are with the friends and family of Depuy and Adams, said Madison County Sheriff Allen Riley.

Source:  http://www.oneidadispatch.com



Timothy Monville, senior air safety investigator with the National Transportation Safety Board, speaks to reporters Wednesday in Morrisville. On his left is Madison County Sheriff Allen Riley.


Vigil
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