February 13, 2020: Aircraft crashed under unknown circumstances while on approach.
Or & Wil LLC
https://registry.faa.gov/N1149T
Date: 13-FEB-20
Time: 17:13:00Z
Regis#: N1149T
Aircraft Make: MOONEY
Aircraft Model: M20P
Event Type: ACCIDENT
Highest Injury: FATAL
Total Fatal: 2
Aircraft Missing: No
Damage: SUBSTANTIAL
Activity: PERSONAL
Flight Phase: APPROACH (APR)
Operation: 91
City: BARTOW
State: FLORIDA
Those who may have information that might be relevant to the National Transportation Safety Board investigation may contact them by email eyewitnessreport@ntsb.gov, and any friends and family who want to contact investigators about the accident should email assistance@ntsb.gov.
Lynn Spencer, Air Safety Investigator
National Transportation Safety Board
“I want to express my condolences to the friends and family of those who were involved in yesterday’s accident here,” said Lynn Spencer, a National Transportation Safety Board investigator who briefed the media February 14th after arriving at the 4612 Weston Road crash site from her office in Washington, D.C.
Killed in the crash were the Port Orange couple of Bonnie and Dennis Powell, ages 73 and 76, respectively.
Noting the agency is in the “preliminary fact-finding investigation,” Spencer said the aircraft will be taken to a facility in Jacksonville for further examination by the National Transportation Safety Board, Federal Aviation Administration and Lycoming Engines.
It appeared to be part of a four-aircraft formation flying into Bartow Executive Airport, Spencer said. She added that witnesses near the airport saw the formation and observed the Mooney M20J 201 nose-down in the final moments of the flight while still in formation with the two trailing aircraft.
“The aircraft impacted the ground in near-vertical altitude. We have located all four corners of the aircraft. We don’t believe weather played a role, but will be looking at that in our investigation,” she said.
A preliminary report will be finished in about 10 days, followed by a final report in 18 to 24 months, according to Spencer.
“The National Transportation Safety Board does investigate every civil aviation accident in the United States,” she said. “Our hope is that we can determine what happened so that we can perhaps prevent it from happening again and increase aviation safety in the United States.”
Spencer said that one of the things investigators will look at is how common it is to have that type of four-plane formation locally.
“We do know that some airplanes associated with the Spruce Creek Flying Club do this kind of formation flying,” she said, adding that the NTSB will also look at FAA regulations concerning such formations to make sure that it was a “legal” flight.
The flight’s lead aircraft was in communication with air traffic control at the Bartow airport, she said.
Around 11 a.m. Thursday, aircraft number one landed, followed by aircraft two and three. “They waited for aircraft number four. It had crashed,” Spencer said.
Another area of the investigation, according to Spencer, is the entirety of the aircraft’s history.
“We look at the man, the machine and the environment,” she said.
Spencer said it doesn’t appear at this point that the Powells’ plane touched any of the other aircraft in the formation before it crashed less than one mile from the airport.
She noted that key elements of the investigation will be interviews with witnesses, video footage that was provided and fuel stainage on lawns.
When asked if the Mooney M20J 201 has a flight or cockpit recorder, Spencer said that aircraft isn’t equipped with one, but investigators did retrieve equipment that will provide information as to the speed, the bank and the operation of the aircraft and the engine. The equipment will be taken to the National Transportation Safety Board recorders laboratory in Washington for examination.
Crash investigators and other officials used a crane to extract the remains of the plane wreckage and load it for transport to Jacksonville.
Original article can be found here ➤ https://www.theledger.com
VOLUSIA COUNTY, Fla. —A lawn care worker was clipped by a plane as it took off at a Port Orange fly-in community.
The private plane hit the worker shortly after 10:30 a.m. Thursday, according to the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office.
The man was struck by the plane's right wing as it was taxiing through the Spruce Creek neighborhood, deputies said.
The man was taken to a local hospital after complaining of back pain. His injuries are non-like-threatening.
The plane sustained minor damage to the wing.
Story and video: http://www.wesh.com
(WESH) - A Florida man is recovering after he was struck by a landing plane.
Part of the single-engine plane's wing was visibly damaged by the accident Thursday at Spruce Creek Fly-In Airpark near Port Orange.
Larry Kooney said his son, Larry Kooney, II, 42, is still in the hospital, recovering from the injuries.
"He came and said, 'Larry just got hit by a plane,' and as a father, you know, my reaction was pretty distraught at the time," the elder Kooney said.
Kooney said there was no warning and that his son, who had his back to the plane and was wearing ear protection, never saw or heard the plane coming. He said he is thankful his son is alive.
"There were several pieces of plexiglass on the ground which came off. That's how hard the plane hit him. It actually broke pieces of the plane," Kooney said.
Original article can be found here: http://www.witn.com
The contractor was wearing a headset at the time, the Association said in an email to residents.
“SCPOA greatly urges all to stop, look, listen and be sure all is clear when near the taxiways,” the email said. “Please, please, please do not wear ear buds, earplugs, headsets or anything else that may impact your ability to hear aircraft.”
The contractor was unable to move after being hit and was taken to the hospital, the Volusia County Sheriff's Office said..
His condition was not immediately available.
Original article can be found here: http://www.wftv.com
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